MONROE TOWNSHIP MOURNS PASSING OF MAYOR GERALD W. TAMBURRO

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of the honorable Mayor, Gerald W. Tamburro.  Mayor Tamburro passed away surrounded by his family.    

Always service-oriented and loyal to his community, Tamburro was elected as second-ward councilman in November 2001. He went on to serve as Township Council President for eight years before being elected Mayor in 2015.  He was a tireless and passionate advocate for Monroe Township residents and served the township with love and pride.    

A National Guard veteran, Mayor Tamburro valued and honored all veterans and made it a point to personally meet each Monroe veteran when possible.     

In both his public and private life, he was an extraordinary family-man, mentor and leader. Monroe Township administration and all staff members express their deepest condolences to the Tamburro family.  

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Demarco Funeral Home please visit https://demarcofuneralhome.com/tribute/details/4490/Gerald-Tamburro/obituary.html#tribute-start for information on COVID-safe drive through visitation.  Township flags will be flown at half-staff for seven days to honor Mayor Tamburro and his decades of service. 

Rest in peace, Mayor.  You will be missed.

State Law provides that the current Council President, Miriam Cohen, assumes the role of Acting Mayor during the process of filling the vacancy in the office of the Mayor.  Over the course of the next 30 days the Township Council will complete the process of appointing an interim Mayor to serve until a special election to be held in November of 2021.

117 NEW COVID-19 CASES COMMUNITY-WIDE, ONE NEW CASE IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY & ONE NEW CASE AT STATE BOYS HOME

OVER SEVEN-DAY PERIOD; 4 DEATHS 

PLEASE NOTE: Cases are reported as soon as the information is made available to the Township.

Thirty-nine additional positive cases community-wide reported today were from June through December. 

New Community-Wide Cases (12/24 – 30):  02F, 05M, 06F, 10M, 13F, 15M, 16M, (3) 17M, 18F, 18M, (3) 19M, 20F, (3) 20M, 21M, (4) 22M, (2) 23M, 24M, (2) 25F, (3) 25M, 26F, 26M, 29F, 29M, 31F, 31M, 32M, (2) 33M, 34F,

(2) 37F, 38M, 40F, 41F, 44F, 44M, 46M, 47F, (3) 47M, (3) 48M, 49F, (3) 49M, (2) 50F, 51M, (2) 52F, 52M, 53F, 53M, 55F, (3) 55M, 56F, (2) 56M, (2) 57M, 58F, 59F, (2) 59M, (2) 60F, 60M, 62M, 64F, (2) 65F, 65M, 66M, 68F, 68M,

(2) 71F, 71M, (3) 72M, 73M, 74F, 77F, (2) 78M, (2) 79F, 80F, 81F, 81M, 83M, 85M, 86F, 90M, 91F, (2) 92F, 95F 

New Long-Term Care Case (12/24 – 30):  97F

New State Boys Home Cases (12/24 – 30):  18M (no date provided) 

NJ LAUNCHES WEBSITE FOR COVID-19 VACCINE NEWS AND HOW TO REGISTER:  New Jersey unveiled a website where people will sign up to receive a coronavirus vaccine in “the near future,” Governor Murphy said Wednesday.  The website doesn’t currently allow people to register or pre-register for the vaccine. But the governor has said he hopes doses for the wider public will be available by April or May.     

VACCINE COORDINATION EFFORTS UNDERWAY:  Township representatives are working with county and state officials to ensure vaccines arrive in Monroe as soon as possible.  Per the state COVID-19 Vaccination Program, vaccines are currently available to those who are in Phase 1A which includes “paid and unpaid persons serving in health care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials as well as residents and staff of long-term congregate settings.”

The NJ Department of Health is partnering with Rite Aid to administer vaccinations to home healthcare workers and hospice staff.  Walgreens and CVS are coordinating with long-term care facilities to provide vaccines to residents and staff.  Updates regarding vaccine availability will be shared as received.      

CURRENT STATE AND NJDOH STATISTICS: 

• 5,107 new COVID-19 positive cases in NJ reported December 31.
• 3,727 COVID-19 patients in NJ hospitals as of December 28.
• 701 individuals in critical care; 67% on ventilators.
• Daily percent positivity for December 26: 15.19%.
• Transmission rate: .95

Visit https://discovermiddlesex.com/total-cumulative-cases/ for total cumulative coronavirus cases from Middlesex County reported by municipality.  The dashboard is updated by 4pm daily.