Congressman Kim - Coronavirus Update – March 2023
NJ COVID-19 Cases Update (as of 3/13/23 at 9:45 a.m.)
- +661 NEW COVID-19 cases statewide
- 7-day average of NEW cases a day: 712
- +4 NEW fatalities / total (cumulative) fatalities in New Jersey: 32,903
- 78% of New Jersey residents of all eligible ages are fully vaccinated
- +44 NEW cases in Burlington County
- The COVID-19 community risk level in Burlington County is currently medium.
- 78% of Burlington County residents of all eligible ages are vaccinated
- 18 Long Term Care facilities with ACTIVE outbreaks
- +36 NEW cases in Mercer County
- The COVID-19 community risk level in Mercer County is currently low.
- 74% of Ocean County residents of all eligible ages are vaccinated
- 20 Long Term Care facilities with ACTIVE outbreaks
- +40 NEW cases in Monmouth County
- The COVID-19 community risk level in Monmouth County is currently low.
- 70% of Ocean County residents of all eligible ages are vaccinated
- 34 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.
As you may know, the public health emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic will be ending on May 11, 2023. Therefore, Congressman Kim will be discontinuing these COVID newsletters effective late April, 2023. You can find resources on Congressman Kim’s website, and you can sign up for additional newsletters here.
Updates from the White House, State and Congressman Kim
- After Saturday, April 1st, all Burlington County Health Department vaccination sites will close operations. Contact your healthcare provider about accessing a vaccine or use New Jersey’s statewide resources, including the vaccine appointment finder and COVID-19 Vaccine Registration.
- The Burlington County Testing Site in Willingboro will close after Friday, April 28th. Find further information on COVID-19 testing in Burlington County and other test options online.
- Upcoming COVID-19 pediatric vaccine clinics hosted by the Mercer County Division of Public Health (walk-ins welcome for those 6 months to 11 years old only, Pfizer and Moderna primary and bivalent boosters will be available):
- April 1st at Mercer County Library System West Windsor Branch from 10 AM to 11:30 AM.
- April 29th at Mercer County Library System Lawrence Headquarters Branch from 10 AM to 11:30 AM.
- Upcoming COVID-19 vaccine clinics hosted by the Mercer County Division of Public Health (all ages welcome, all doses will be available):
- April 5th at 1440 Parkside Ave, Ewing, NJ from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM
- March COVID-19 vaccine clinics hosted by the Monmouth County Department of Health (walk-ins welcome ages 6 months and up):
- March 15th from 4 PM to 6 PM at the Monmouth County Health Department
- March 22nd from 4 PM to 6 PM at the Howell Senior Center
- Starting April 4th, Monmouth County's Tuesday vaccine clinics will continue at Monmouth County Health Department from 3 PM to 6 PM. Monmouth County’s Brookdale Community College Vaccine Clinic will end on March 28th.
- Until then, they are open Tuesdays from 2 PM to 6 PM at Brookdale Community College.
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 County is considered MEDIUM RISK, according to the CDC. Therefore, federal recommendation is that if you are at high risk of getting very sick, wear a high-quality mask or respirator when indoors in public and if you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for getting very sick, consider self-testing to detect infection before contact, and consider wearing a high-quality mask when indoors with them. People may choose to mask at any time. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a high-quality mask or respirator when indoors in public.
As of today, Mercer and Monmouth Counties are considered LOW RISK, according to the CDC. Therefore, federal recommendation is that people may choose to mask at any time. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a high-quality mask or respirator when indoors 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
As of today, 0 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?
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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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