Democrat,

As we all grapple with the effects of the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic, it’s clear that we are in an unprecedented situation. Now more than ever before, it’s essential that we have strong, clear direction from our leaders on the steps we can all take to reduce the spread of the disease. Governor Phil Murphy and his team have been working extraordinarily hard to ensure that all residents are getting the information they need and that the correct policies are being put in place to protect people, and I thank him for his strong, effective and calming leadership. Simultaneously, local and county elected officials from both parties are helping their own communities stay safe, and I commend them as well. 

At the NJDSC, we recognize that the Coronavirus response takes precedence over politics in this difficult moment. We want to use our platform to amplify the messages being sent by the Governor and his team, so we will be sharing information with our network whenever possible. Please review the information below, and make sure to follow the directives of public health officials -- stay home as much as possible, practice social distancing, wash your hands and help your neighbors. 

COVID-19 RESOURCES

** New Jersey Department of Health has a COVID Dashboard which is updated daily at around the time of the daily state COVID Taskforce hearing.  

** Email questions can go to [email protected]. 

** WHO has a COVID Dashboard for the world view of this pandemic.  

** Guidance for NJ Schools: New Jersey Department of Education has a COVID section.

** Gov Murphy has established an online portal for all businesses, small and large, to get answers to their questions and concerns as the #COVID19 emergency impacts our economy. For more information, visit: http://cv.business.nj.gov.

** Additional business resources here: https://faq.business.nj.gov/en/collections/2198378-information-for-nj-businesses-on-the-coronavirus-outbreak

** Department of Labor updates: https://www.nj.gov/labor/

** There is a 24-hour hotline in NJ to ask questions (available in multiple languages):  1-800-222-1222 or if you're calling from out of state 1-900-962-1253.  

** Governor Phil Murphy's staff transcribes the daily COVID briefings within hours of the briefing.  You can find the transcripts here, and also find other COVID related press releases:  https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/562020/approved/news_archive.shtml

** If you want to watch the 2:00pm daily briefings, you can catch the livestream on the Gov's various social media links, or you can go to the Gov's You Tube channel here:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8YwF0eRl9E5lpGj8OaiLg 

** NJ Transit has published a page to discuss COVID.

** MVC information is here:  https://www.state.nj.us/mvc/

** To debunk myths about coronavirus, please visit:  https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters

** Follow these Twitter links for the MOST updated information:

• https://twitter.com/GovMurphy
• https://twitter.com/LtGovOliver
• https://twitter.com/NJDeptofHealth
• https://twitter.com/WHO
• https://twitter.com/NJTRANSIT
• https://twitter.com/NJGov

MARCH 17 UPDATES:

Governor Murphy Announced Mandatory Closure of All Indoor Portions of Retail Shopping Malls, Places of Public Amusement

TRENTON – To further strengthen New Jersey’s aggressive social distancing measures, Governor Phil Murphy announced an Administrative Order mandating the indefinite closure across New Jersey of 1) all indoor portions of retail shopping malls and 2) all indoor and outdoor places of public amusement across New Jersey. The Order, issued by State Director of Emergency Management Colonel Patrick Callahan, supplements the list of facilities currently closed to members of the public, which includes casino gaming floors, racetracks, gyms, and entertainment centers.

“Today is day one of life in New Jersey under the measures we’ve put in place to ensure social distancing, help ‘flatten the curve,’ and slow the spread of coronavirus,” said Governor Murphy. “During these extraordinary times, we all have of a role to play to protect public health and emerge stronger as one New Jersey family.”

The Administrative Order applies to the following facilities:

• All indoor portions of retail shopping malls. Restaurants and other stores located within shopping malls that have their own external entrances open to the public, separate from the general mall entrance, may remain open as long as they comply with prior directives on operating hours and takeout or food delivery services.  
• All places of public amusement, whether indoors or outdoors, including but not limited to, locations with amusement rides, carnivals, amusement parks, water parks, aquariums, zoos, arcades, fairs, children’s play centers, funplexes, theme parks, bowling alleys, family and children’s attractions.  

The Administrative Order does not apply to public parks and open recreation areas.

The Order takes effect at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

MARCH 16 UPDATES: 

Governor Murphy Announced Aggressive Social Distancing Measures to Mitigate Further Spread of COVID-19 in New Jersey

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 104, implementing aggressive social distancing measures to mitigate further spread of COVID-19 in New Jersey. Among the directives, Governor Murphy’s Executive Order indefinitely closes all public and private preschool, elementary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher education, as well as closes all casinos, racetracks, gyms, movie theaters, and performing arts centers. The order also mandates that all non-essential retail, recreational, and entertainment businesses must cease daily operations from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. All restaurant establishments, with or without a liquor license, are limited to offering only delivery and/or take out-services only, both during daytime hours and after 8 pm.

“In order to slow the spread of COVID-19, we must take aggressive and direct social distancing action to curtail non-essential activities in the state,” said Governor Murphy. “Our paramount priority is to ‘flatten the curve’ of new cases, so we do not overwhelm our health care system and overload our health care professionals who are on the frontlines of the response. My Administration continues to work closely with our communities, stakeholders, union representatives, and business leaders to ensure that we all do our part to win the fight against the novel coronavirus and emerge stronger than ever.”

In order to slow the spread of COVID-19, Governor Murphy’s executive order directs:

• All gatherings of persons in the State of New Jersey shall be limited to 50 persons or fewer, with limited exceptions;
• All public, private, and parochial preschool programs, and elementary and secondary schools, including charter and renaissance schools, will be closed beginning on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, and remain closed as long as the Order remains in effect;
• Institutions of higher education will cease all in-person instruction beginning on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, and shall cease such in-person instruction as long as the Order remains in effect;
• The Commissioner of Education shall continue working with each public, private, and parochial school to ensure students are able to continue their education through appropriate home instruction
• The Secretary of Agriculture and the Commissioner of Education shall take all necessary actions to ensure all students eligible for free or reduced meals will continue to receive the services necessary to meet nutritional needs during closures;
• All casinos, concert venues, nightclubs, racetracks, gyms, fitness centers and classes, movie theaters, and performing arts centers will be closed to the public beginning on Monday, March 16, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. and remain closed as long as this Order remains in effect;
• All other non-essential retail, recreational, and entertainment businesses must cease daily operations from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.; and
• All restaurant establishments, with or without a liquor or limited brewery license, are limited to offering delivery and/or take out-services only.

The order will take effect immediately.

"These are extraordinary times, and educators throughout the state have been taking extraordinary measures to create plans for high-quality home instruction, ensure food security for children who depend on free and reduced lunch, and provide services for all special needs students,” said Education Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet. “We understand that the closure can be a disruption for many parents, but we know nothing is more important than the safety of the 1.4 children we serve.”

“We understand this is an unprecedented situation, and we are asking institutions to be extra vigilant in protecting the health and safety of their students, faculty, staff and the entire campus community. As institutions move to remote instruction, we urge them to ensure there are appropriate accommodations in place for students with disabilities, those who may not have access to internet services, and students who call their campus community home,” said Dr. Zakiya Smith Ellis, Secretary of Higher Education. “We continue collaborating with institutions to address concerns.”

Be well,

Chairman John Currie