Covid-19 News and Resources

• While there is not yet an official recommendation for the average person to wear a mask, we now have seen a number of articles and even Dr. Fauci recommending it. To be clear, this is not instead of social distancing. This is for those times when you have no choice to but to go out (grocery shopping, picking up medications, etc). 
  
  This is also a plea for the average person to not use medical masks. Please save those for the medical professionals on the front line. Instead, make your own mask at home. Here are instructions for a basic mask that you can make if you have a sewing machine and fabric (pillow cases, tee shirts, bandanas all work) and elastic. You can also make this one with fabric ties if you don't have elastic. Or you can make one without sewing. 
  
  You also need to remember that wearing a mask should be a reminder for you not to touch your face. Don't adjust the mask, don't scratch your face through it, or under it. Still practice social distancing, still don't touch your face while out, still wash your hands. This is just one tool to help the spread of the virus and does not mean you can stop doing everything else. 
   
• New Jersey's Covid-19 information website.
   
• More testing sites have been added in New Jersey. Find one near you, and see if you qualify for testing, at this page. There is also a symptom checker here. 
   
• First Lady Tammy Murphy has established the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund. Find out more and donate at the website here. 

Take Action!
Things you can do while you #stayhome

• If you haven't responded already, please take five minutes and fill out your Census information. This will affect New Jersey for the next 10 years!
   
• Want to do some craftwork and sew masks for hospitals and other medical workers? Join this group based in Union County. Anyone can join, wherever you live, but if you're local, they have materials for donation and even have some sewing machines their members will loan out. 
   
• Because of the Covid-19 virus, Congressional District 2 in New Jersey is talking about postponing County Committee elections until next year, rather than going to Vote by Mail like the rest of the state is doing. Sign this petition to tell them that this is unacceptable and elections must go on. 
   
• Are you running for office in 2020? Tuesday April 7 there's a free online event for how to run for office during Covid-19. Run by the Center for American Women and Politics at Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University and sponsored by Ready to Run, this two part online event will help you figure out what you need to do. Register for part 1 here. Part 2 will open for registration later. 
   
• If you have cable, you are funding Fox News, whether you want to or not. In 2020, and 2021 a large number of Fox News cable contracts will expire, so we have the chance to ask our cable companies to stop funding them. Learn more here.
   
• Through this Sierra Club link, send a message to our Attorney General asking him to fight the Trump administration's rollback of clean car standards. 
   
• While we're all distracted by a state of emergency, the Trump administration has decided to stop enforcing environmental safeguards already in place. Click this link here to join the Sierra Club in protesting this. 
   
• This month the NJ League of Conservation Voters will be sending out regular actions that people can do from  home, to give you something to do to help protect the environment, even while you're stuck on your couch. Sign up here. 
   
• Indivisible is joining up with VoteFWD to run a nation wide campaign to send letters to voters. Find more information and sign up for this initiative here. 

Upcoming Events
Check out these events that you can attend while you #stayhome