6 NEW COVID-19 POSITIVE CASES REPORTED ON TUESDAY

4 IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES AND 2 COMMUNITY-WIDE

COVID-19 Cases received Tuesday, May 5:  New positive cases 6 

STATE AND NJDOH STATISTICS:  

• Over 35 million pieces of PPE have been distributed by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management from the central warehouse.“We have left no stone unturned in finding the masks, gloves, shields and other PPE our front-line heroes have needed to keep safe throughout this emergency,” said Governor Murphy.“We’re not going to stop.”
• There are 122 testing sites across the state.31 sites are either publicly run or open to the general public can be located here.
• 439 new hospitalizations yesterday and 435 patients discharged.
• As of 10 p.m. last night:5,221 residents hospitalized for COVID-19, 1,549 patients in either critical or intensive care – down by roughly 25 percent from just three weeks ago.
• 74% of ICU patients are on ventilators. 1,146 ventilators currently in use.Governor Murphy says this number continues to decline.
• 256,064 tests performed, 101,378 positive, positivity rate is 39.59%
• 512 LTC facilities with COVID-19 cases; 23,345 COVID-19 cases in these facilities.10.7 million pieces of PPE delivered to long-term care facilities

GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER #138 EXTENDING PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY BY 30 DAYS:  Governor Murphy announced today that he is extending the public health emergency he declared in New Jersey over the coronavirus pandemic by 30 days.  “If this extension signals one thing, it is this – we can’t give up one bit on the one thing that we know is working in this fight:  social distancing,” the Governor said.  “Remember, in the absence of a vaccine, or even proven therapeutics for COVID-19, our only cure is social distancing.”  Read the NJ.com article here.

Pictured:  Map of NJ shows slowing rates of doubling of NJ cases.  Daily count of new cases leveling as more testing sites continue to come online.  The rate of positivity among those tested continues to decrease.  The number of hospitalizations across the NJ healthcare systems, regionally, continues to trend down.  The total number of hospitalizations in NJ continues a steady overall decline.

EXPANDED TESTING AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC:  MyInstaDoc Monroe announced the availability of antibody blood testing and COVID-19 testing for anyone wishing to be tested at the facility located at 298 Applegarth Road.  REGISTER ONLINE FOR AN APPOINTMENT HERE AND ENTER YOUR INSURANCE INFORMAION. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE SYMPTOMATIC TO SCHEDULE A TEST.  COVID-19 Nasal Swab Testing:  This continues to be a drive-up test site, open TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY. You must pre-register to secure a drive-up appointment time.  The facility will serve pre-registered COVID-19 testing patients only from 9am – 3:30pm.  igG Antibody Blood Testingwill be conducted in-office by appointment.  To be considered, a patient must be free from all COVID-19 symptoms for no less than 14 days.  This test will assess them for subclinical infection in the past.    

MONROE TOWNSHIP FOOD PANTRY SERVING THE COMMUNITY:  Pictured below:  Volunteer Joseph Giancaspro; Samantha Schween, LSW, of the Monroe Township Office of Senior Services and Monroe Township Police department recruits helping with food pantry deliveries earlier today.  For additional information about the food pantry, contact Karen Theer at 609-448-7140, ext. 210.