Congressman Kim - Coronavirus Update – January 2023
NJ COVID-19 Cases Update (as of 1/9/22 at 10:00 a.m.)
- +3,159 NEW COVID-19 cases statewide
- 7-day average of NEW cases a day: 3,156
- +13 NEW fatalities / total (cumulative) fatalities in New Jersey: 32,473
- 78% of New Jersey residents of all eligible ages are fully vaccinated
- +133 NEW cases in Burlington County
- The COVID-19 community risk level in Burlington County is currently high.
- 78% of Burlington County residents of all eligible ages are vaccinated
- 17 Long Term Care facilities with ACTIVE outbreaks
- +213 NEW cases in Mercer County
- The COVID-19 community risk level in Mercer County is currently high.
- 74% of Ocean County residents of all eligible ages are vaccinated
- 19 Long Term Care facilities with ACTIVE outbreaks
- +196 NEW cases in Monmouth County
- The COVID-19 community risk level in Monmouth County is currently high.
- 70% of Ocean County residents of all eligible ages are vaccinated
- 41 Long Term Care facilities with ACTIVE outbreaks
Visit COVID19.nj.gov for the most up-to-date information and access to the full data dashboard.
You can also download the COVID Alert NJ Mobile App, for iPhone or Android.
Updates from the White House, State and Congressman Kim
- Update from our Office after Congressional Redistricting:
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It is our honor to serve each and every person in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional district. We are grateful for all the work we have gotten done together over the past four years and look forward to all that we will accomplish next.
Due to congressional redistricting following the 2020 census, New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District has changed. Beginning January 3, 2023 Congressman Kim no longer represents Ocean County but will continue to represent nearly all of Burlington County, and will newly represent parts of Mercer and Monmouth Counties. This newsletter has been updated to reflect these changes.
We encourage you to visit house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative to identify your Congressional Representative.
- In December 2022, the Biden administration reopened the free at-home COVID-19 by mail test program. Households can order four tests online at covid.gov/tests. If you need help placing an order for your at-home tests, call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
- Upcoming COVID-19 vaccine clinics hosted by the Mercer County Division of Public Health (all ages welcome and all doses will be available):
- January 12th at Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing from 11 AM to 2 PM
- February 1st and March 1st at Mercer County Office Park from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
- January COVID-19 vaccine clinics hosted by the Monmouth County Department of Health (walk-ins welcome ages 6 months and up):
- January 11th from 4 PM to 7 PM at the Neptune Senior Center
- January 18th from 4 to 7 PM at the Monmouth County Health Department
- January 25th from 4 to 7 PM at the Howell Senior Center
CDC Mask Recommendations
CDC mask recommendations are based on their COVID-19 Community Level tool, which was released in February. The metrics are based on hospitalizations and case rates. CDC metrics available online are updated every Thursday.
As of today, Burlington, Mercer, and Monmouth Counties are considered HIGH RISK, according to the CDC. Therefore, federal recommendation is that people wear a high-quality mask or respirator and if you are at high risk of getting very sick, consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public.
Additional precautions may be needed for people at high risk for severe illness. If you are at high risk for severe illness, it may be helpful to talk with your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions. Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if you have symptoms
All 21 counties in New Jersey are currently considered high risk.
While these recommendations do not trigger any mask requirements in New Jersey, N95 masks are still available for free at pharmacies, retailers, and community health centers.
General COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Anyone six-months old or above who lives, works, or studies in New Jersey is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. For more information about current eligibility, statewide vaccination site locations, and to preregister for vaccination, visit COVID-19.nj.gov/vaccine.
The New Jersey COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center can also be reached at: 1-855-568-0545
Find additional vaccination information specific for veterans, businesses, seniors, and children online and/or request a new copy of your vaccination card.
Booster Information
Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters by checking the latest information on the CDC’s website.
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines.
Information on Clinical Considerations & Mixing COVID-19 Vaccine Products:
Primary series
CDC does not recommend mixing products for your primary series doses. If you received Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax for the first dose of your primary series, you should get the same product for all following primary series doses.
Boosters
- Updated (bivalent) boosters became available on:
- September 2, 2022, for people 12 years of age and older
- October 12, 2022, for people aged 5–11
- December 9, 2022, for people aged 6 months to 5 years.
- CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines for their age group:
- Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection against COVID-19.
- If you recently had COVID-19, you may consider delaying your next vaccine dose (primary dose or booster) by 3 months from when your symptoms started or, if you had no symptoms, when you first received a positive test.
The CDC considers people to be up to date if:
- They have completed their primary series and the most recent booster recommended for them.
Additional clinical considerations and guidance from the CDC is available and updated on a rolling basis.
COVID-19 Testing
You can find a testing location near you here and here, order a free saliva test shipped directly to your door online, or find out more information about public testing sites, including pop-up sites.
The NJ Department of Health and Vault Medical Services are continuing to offer free, at-home COVID-19 saliva test kits. These are available to all, even if you are symptom-free. To order a free test kit, visit learn.vaulthealth.com/nj.
For those who are blind or have low-vision, more accessible testing options can be ordered online or by calling 1-800-232-0233.
You can also purchase up to eight at-home, over-the-counter COVID-19 tests a month upfront and then submit a claim for reimbursement to your insurance company. If you purchase an over-the-counter COVID-19 test from a pharmacy, store, or online retailer and are charged for your test, keep your receipt and submit a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement. People with Medicare can get up to eight tests per month from participating pharmacies and health care providers. Here is a list of the pharmacies participating in Medicare’s over-the-counter tests initiative.
Additional Resources
We have compiled additional COVID-19 information and resources regarding transportation, returning to work, rental assistance, funeral reimbursement, and healthcare subsidies.
Where Can I Get More Information and Updates From Congressman Kim?
If you or someone you know would like to receive these updates or any of the following newsletters from Congressman Kim, please sign up here:
- Weekly E-Newsletter
- Senior Living Newsletter
- Guide to Grants Newsletter
- Veterans Newsletter
- Small Business Newsletter
Contact us if you need help from our office with a Federal Agency.
If you are a nonprofit agency or write grants, you can find more information on grant applications and our Guides to Grants newsletter here.
Our office receives regular inquiries about where to find essential resources. To help constituents, we’ve developed lists of resources in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District and beyond. This list includes organizations with a wide variety of purposes.
As always, please don’t hesitate to be in touch if you’re in need of assistance.
The Office of Congressman Andy Kim
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