9 NEW COVID-19 POSITIVE CASES REPORTED IN MONROE TOWNSHIP OVER TWO-DAY PERIOD: 6 ON SATURDAY, 3 ON SUNDAY

3 IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES AND 6 COMMUNITY-WIDE 

**According to data from the Middlesex County Board of Health, 76% of deaths in Monroe Township are from private long-term care facilities.   

COVID-19 Cases received Saturday, May 9:  New positive cases 6 

COVID-19 Cases received Sunday, May 10:  New positive cases 3

18 ADDITIONAL REPORTED DEATHS:  

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

Sadly, we must report that Middlesex County has informed us of 18 additional deaths in our community.  Over the past week, Middlesex County completed a comprehensive reconciliation of confirmed deaths in the State of New Jersey’s Communicable Diseases Database to ensure the County and State death lists were accurately aligned. 

These additional deaths are being reported through May 7, 2020.  A further breakdown of this data reflects that 76% of these deaths occur in long term care facilities and 24% are community wide. 

 “Every one of these deaths are a blow to us as a community. We sympathize with the families and mourn the loss with them,” said Mayor Gerald W. Tamburro.  “It is important that we stand together in support our friends and neighbors, during this most difficult time.”

MESSAGE FROM GOVERNOR MURPHY:  “If we start on the road back too quickly, we know we will lose many more lives than we need to – and we’ve already lost 9,310 precious souls.  Direct aid to states is an incredibly pressing issue.  I’m proud to have been among the first governors to sound the alarm for the need for direct federal assistance.  The federal government has expanded Title 32, which means that our NJ National Guardsmen and Guardswomen will continue to receive pay through the federal government through late June.

No one has asked for a bailout.  We’re asking for the ability to prevent this public health emergency from turning into a second Great Depression.  We’re asking for help to keep first responders, front-line workers, and educators from having to fear for their jobs.”

STATE AND NJDOH STATISTICS:  

• As of last night:4,195 residents hospitalized for COVID-19.The number of hospitalizations across the NJ healthcare systems, regionally, also continues to trend down.  
• 179 new hospitalizations yesterday, and 389 across the weekend.227 patients were discharged from the hospital yesterday, and 666 across both Saturday and Sunday.
• 1,255 patients in either critical or intensive care, 970 ventilators currently in use – the second straight day of ventilator count being under 1,000.
• 77% of ICU patients are on ventilators.
• “We’re seeing real progress in declining positivity rates,” said Governor Murphy.“The spot positivity rate for tests from May 7th – the last day for which we have complete data – is26 percent. The rate of spread continues to slow across the state.”
• 515 LTC facilities with COVID-19 cases; 26,397 COVID-19 cases in these facilities.
• “The numbers of positive cases and deaths connected to our long-term care facilities continues to grow,” the Governor said.“We’re continuing to work hard to mitigate these numbers. We had good reports from this past weekend, when the first group of NJ National Guard members joined several facilities.”

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 – 3pm. igG Antibody Blood Testing will 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.

REMEMBER TO COMPLETE YOUR CENSUS FORMS:  Watch Secretary of State Tahesha Way explain how filling out the 2020 Census will affect senior citizens in New Jersey here. During Older Americans Month, it is important that 100% of our 65+ community is counted for the next decade. To fill out your Census forms, click here.