4 NJ Coronavirus Bills Signed Into Law As Deaths Hit 3-Month High
NEW JERSEY – Gov. Murphy has signed four coronavirus bills into law – two dealing with long-term care – as New Jersey's COVID-19 case and fatality numbers have risen to their highest in months.
Murphy signed two bills on Friday that order reforms to the long-term care industry, where New Jersey has suffered the worst effects of the pandemic since the coronavirus crisis began in March.
The Murphy administration has also taken heat for its management of nursing and veteran home care, especially since the outbreak spread uncontrollably during the first months of the crisis. Read more: Record Request Stalled On NJ's 'Makeshift Morgue' Nursing Home
About half – 7,203 – of the state's death toll has involved long-term care staff and residents (the list of long-term care facilities and fatalities are listed below).
On Friday, Murphy pointed the finger of blame largely at the industry itself for the tragic circumstances.
"Sadly, too many nursing homes are run by companies more interested in making money than protecting patients," said Murphy. "These long-sought reforms will help bring accountability to the industry and protect residents, staff, and family members with a loved one living in a long-term care facility" (see the bills' details below).
The bill signings come as the daily coronavirus death toll in New Jersey hit 18 on both Wednesday and Thursday, the highest since July 29th. Daily fatalities reached double-digits for the fourth day in a row on Friday, the first time that's happened since July 29-Aug. 1 (see the daily case and fatality numbers below).
New Jersey's case total also topped 1,000 for the sixth day in a row, the first time that's happened since May 17-22.
As Murphy touted what he considers the state's improving efforts to protect New Jersey's vulnerable populations, the governor also warned the Garden State that the pandemic is apparently taking a turn for the worse.
Murphy said the positivity rate is more than double what it was two months ago – 5.28 percent – and the transmission rate continues to be above the too-high 1.0 level (1.17). That means anyone with the coronavirus is likely spreading the virus to more than one other person.
Murphy said he's pleased that New Jersey has had only 25 in-school transmissions considering that there are "thousands" of schools. "I would say that's, so far, knocking on wood here, so far so good," he said.
But hospitalizations are also over 800 for the first time in three months – 852 – and case totals are more than double of what they were a month ago, Murphy said.
"The numbers we're getting day-to-day are sobering," Murphy said. "They are constant reminders that not only are we not out of the woods, but we also have to find a way to combat our pandemic fatigue and remain vigilant."
Those issues, Murphy suggested, could be behind the recent spikes in numbers.
As the weather gets colder and people get tired of social distancing, the governor said, New Jersey is seeing outbreaks in cases caused largely by gatherings in homes.
Murphy urged people to keep gatherings to only people they know, or anyone living within a "bubble" where there's complete trust that the coronavirus won't spread.
He said these gatherings likely involve dinner parties or people getting together to watch football games.
"Folks, we can't drop the ball here, and that comes especially when we are welcoming people into our homes," he said. "It's when people are gathering in private homes where we're seeing trouble."
Here is what the governor signed into law:
Long-term care
Murphy today signed two bills (S2712 and S2785) ordering reforms to the long-term care industry. The bills implement recommendations from the Manatt Health Report, released on June 3, 2020.
S2712 requires minimum direct care staff-to-resident ratios in New Jersey long-term care facilities. Additionally, the legislation will establish the "Special Task Force on Direct Care Workforce Retention and Recruitment" to address staffing problems.
S2785 requires long-term care facilities to institute policies that prevent social isolation of residents, addressing issues experienced by LTC residents and their families as a result of prohibitions and limitations on visitation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Staff caring for our most vulnerable residents in long-term care settings are the backbone of these facilities,” said Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. “As a nurse, I know there is no more important role than as a caregiver and all of those working in these facilities are healthcare heroes. We have to support this workforce and give them an opportunity to grow and advance in their careers, so it is not only a more rewarding job, but also results in improved care.”
Primary sponsors for S2712 include Senators Brian P. Stack, Patrick J. Diegnan, and Joseph F. Vitale, and Assemblymembers Angelica M. Jimenez, Gordon M. Johnson, and Pedro Mejia.
Stack, D-Hudson, said New Jersey got an F rating and was ranked 43 out of 50 in direct care staffing hours per nursing home resident.
"These gaping problems have become even more apparent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is unacceptable and we all know we can do better,” he said. “These are our parents and grandparents and soon, they will be us. This law will ensure that every resident in our nursing homes receives the care and attention we all deserve.”
The Manatt Report cited longstanding staffing shortages as one of the systemic issues that exacerbated the industry’s COVID-19-response challenges.
Specifically, S2712 requires:
One certified nursing assistant to every eight residents for the day shift;
One direct care staff member (RN, LPN, or CNA) to every 10 residents for the evening shift; and
One direct care staff member (RN, LPN, or CNA) to every 14 residents for the night shift.
The other bill, S2785, is intended to address the tremendous strain experienced by long-term care residents and families of residents as a result of the prohibition of, and limitation on, visitation during the pandemic, lawmakers said.
The bill requires facilities to create social isolation prevention policies to authorize residents of the facility to engage in in-person contact, communications, and religious and recreational activities with other facility residents and with family members, friends, and other external support systems.
“For months at the start of the pandemic, family and friends were not allowed to visit their loved ones in long-term care facilities to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” said Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, D-Bergen, chair of the Aging and Senior Services Committee and prime sponsor of the new law. “Though this precaution was intended to protect the physical health of residents, for many the sustained social isolation took a toll on their mental health."
Inmate credits
Murphy also recently signed legislation (S2519) which requires public health emergency credits to be awarded to certain inmates and parolees during a public health emergency.
Under the bill, public health emergency credits would be awarded to any adult inmate or juvenile who is within 365 days of their scheduled release.
Credits would not to be awarded to anyone who is serving a sentence for murder or aggravated sexual assault or who has been deemed a repetitive, compulsive sex offender.
The legislation includes certain exclusions and prohibits inmates or parolees to contact their victims upon their release.
“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our administration has worked tirelessly to save as many lives as possible and to stem the spread of COVID-19,” said Murphy. “Since March, the population in State correctional facilities has decreased by nearly 3,000 people (16 percent), including more than 1,200 people who were released under Executive Order 124. This dramatic reduction has allowed for critical social distancing as part of the fight against COVID-19.
These are the nursing homes with current outbreaks and the highest number of deaths:
Lincoln Park Care Center, Lincoln Park, Morris 66
Daughters of Miriam, Clifton, Passaic 48
Marcella Center, Burlington Twp, Burlington 38
Alaris Health at Hamilton Park, Jersey City, Hudson 35
Advanced Subacute Rehabilitation Center, Mantua, Gloucester 31
Gateway Care Center, Eatontown, Monmouth 30
Hamilton Grove, Hamilton Twp, Mercer 28
Brighton Gardens of Florham Park, Florham Park Boro, Morris 25
Abingdon Care and Rehabilitation Center, Green Brook Twp, Somerset 25
Alaris at Castle Hill, Union City, Hudson 20
Anchor Care and Rehabilitation, Hazlet, Monmouth 20
AristaCare at Norwood Terrace, Plainfield, Union 20
Genesis Healthcare Burlington Woods , Burlington Twp, Burlington 18
Wedgewood Gardens, Freehold Twp, Monmouth 16
Riverside Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Trenton, Mercer 15
Cedar Crest - Mountainview Gardens, Pequannock, Morris 15
New Lisbon Developmental Center, Pemberton, Burlington 14
Merry Heart Nursing Home, Roxbury Twp, Morris 14
North Cape Center, Cape May, Cape_May 13
Complete Care At Holiday City, Toms River Twp, Ocean 13
The Chelsea at Fanwood, Fanwood, Union 11
Spring Oaks at Berlin, Berlin Boro, Camden 10
Buckingham at Norwood, Norwood, Bergen 9
Merwick Care & Rehabilitation Center, Plainsboro, Middlesex 9
Allegria at Ocean Grove, Neptune Twp, Monmouth 9
Somerset Woods Rehabilitation & Nursing Center §, Franklin Twp, Somerset 9
Lantern Hill, New Providence, Union 9
Monroe Village (Village Point) REHAB, Monroe Twp, Middlesex 8
Vineland Developmental Center, Vineland, Cumberland 7
"Royal Health Gate Nursing
," Trenton, Mercer 7
Cedar Crest Senior Living Community, Pequannock, Morris 7
Brighton Gardens at Mountainside, Mountainside, Union 6
Brookdale Echelon Lakes, Voorhees Twp, Camden 5
Bayside Manor, Keansburg, Monmouth 5
Sunrise of Madison, Madison Boro, Morris 5
Parker at Somerset, Franklin Twp, Somerset 5
Stonebridge at Montgomery, Montgomery, Somerset 5
Riverview Estates, Riverton, Burlington 4
The Pines at Whiting, Manchester, Ocean 4
Bridgeway Care And Rehabilitation Center At Hillsborough , Hillsborough, Somerset 4
Brookdale Senior Living, Cape May, Cape_May 3
Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland, Vineland, Cumberland 3
Montclair Manor, Montclair, Essex 3
Shady Lane Nursing Home, East Greenwich, Gloucester 3
Hunterdon Developmental Center, Union Twp, Hunterdon 3
Dellridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center §, Paramus, Bergen 2
Avista Health Care, Cherry Hill, Camden 2
Preferred Care at Absecon, Absecon, Atlantic 1
The Bristal in Englewood, Englewood, Bergen 1
Laurel Brook Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Mt Laurel, Burlington 1
Atria Voorhees, Voorhees Twp, Camden 1
Woodbine Developmental Center, Woodbine, Cape_May 1
Lincoln Specialty Care Center, Vineland, Cumberland 1
Alaris Health at Essex, Irvington, Essex 1
Washington Township Senior Living, Washington Twp, Gloucester 1
Brighton Gardens of Middletown, Middletown, Monmouth 1
Ashbrook Care and Rehabilitation Center, Scotch Plains, Union 1
Here is a look at new coronavirus cases by day:
October 23: 1,139
October 22: 1,182
October 21: 1,062
October 20: 1,036
October 19: 1,192
October 18: 1,282
October 17: 958
October 16: 823
October 15: 973
October 14: 953
October 13: 993
October 12: 478
October 11: 751
October 10: 901
October 9: 881
October 8: 1,301
October 7: 514
October 6: 651
October 5: 522
October 4: 637
October 3: 957
October 2: 796
October 1: 663
September 30: 722
September 29: 505
September 28: 561
September 27: 712
September 26: 760
September 25: 612
September 24: 588
September 23: 430
September 22: 457
September 21: 396
September 20: 457
September 19: 489
September 18: 519
September 17: 617
September 16: 447
September 15: 498
September 14: 346
September 13: 306
September 12: 487
September 11: 518
September 10: 507
September 9: 356
September 8: 284
September 7: 344
September 6: 360
September 5: 370
September 4: 478
September 3: 455
September 2: 329
September 1: 365
August 31: 352
August 30: 306
August 29: 388
August 28: 372
August 27: 374
August 26: 288
August 25: 346
August 24: 225
August 23: 288
August 22: 427
August 21: 313
August 20: 302
August 19: 399
August 18: 400
August 17: 316
August 16: 329
August 15: 464
August 14: 585
August 13: 699
August 12: 484
August 11: 498
August 10: 258
August 9: 378
August 8: 379
August 7: 384
August 6: 411
August 5: 378
August 4: 416
August 3: 264
August 2: 331
August 1: 393
July 31: 699
July 30: 261
July 29: 489
July 28: 565
July 27: 446
July 26: 512
July 25: 547
July 24: 488
July 23: 344
July 22: 390
July 21: 424
July 20: 177
July 19: 144
July 18: 309
July 17: 202
July 16: 254
July 15: 396
July 14: 423
July 13: 231
July 12: 349
July 11: 438
July 10: 367
July 9: 354
July 8: 335
July 7: 310
July 6: 216
July 5: 398
July 4: 303
July 3: 386
July 2: 539
July 1: 423
June 30: 461
June 29: 156
June 28: 354
June 27: 347
June 26: 524
June 25: 406
June 24: 317
June 23: 382
June 22: 359
June 21: 411
June 20: 446
June 19: 516
June 18: 442
June 17: 330
June 16: 470
June 15: 274
June 14: 305
June 13: 523
June 12: 495
June 11: 539
June 10: 611
June 9: 375
June 8: 356
June 7: 426
June 6: 606
June 5: 864
June 4: 603
June 3: 652
June 2: 708
June 1: 509
May 31: 868
May 30: 910
May 29: 1,117
May 28: 1,261
May 27: 970
May 26: 703
May 25: 965
May 24: 1,065
May 23: 443
May 22: 1,394
May 21: 1,304
May 20: 1,670
May 19: 1,055
May 18: 1,735
May 17: 1,272
May 16: 1,239
May 15: 1,297
May 14: 1,216
May 13: 1,028
May 12: 898
May 11: 1,453
May 10: 1,503
May 9: 1,759
May 8: 1,985
May 7: 1,827
May 6: 1,513
May 5: 2,494
May 4: 1,621
May 3: 3,144
May 2: 2,912
May 1: 2,651
April 30: 2,633
April 29: 2,481
April 28: 2,887
April 27: 2,146
April 26: 3,730
April 25: 3,457
April 24: 3,047
April 23: 4,427
April 22: 3,551
April 21: 3,644
April 20: 3,528
April 19: 3,915
April 18: 3,026
April 17: 3,250
April 16: 4,391
April 15: 2,625
April 14: 4,049
April 13: 3,219
April 12: 3,733
April 11: 3,599
April 10: 3,627
April 9: 3,748
April 8: 3,088
April 7: 3,361
April 6: 3,663
April 5: 3,482
April 4: 4,331
April 3: 4,372
April 2: 3,489
April 1: 3,649
March 31: 2,196
March 30: 3,347
March 29: 2,316
March 28: 2,289
March 27: 1,982
March 26: 2,492
March 25: 736
March 24: 846
March 23: 935
March 22: 590
March 21: 442
March 20: 155
March 19: 318
March 18: 162
March 17: 89
March 16: 80
March 15: 31
March 14: 19
March 13: 21
March 12: 21
March 11: 8
March 10: 4
March 9: 5
March 8: 6
March 7: 1
March 6: 1
March 5: 1
March 4: 1
Here is a look at coronavirus deaths by day:
October 23: 11
October 22: 18
October 21: 18
October 20: 13
October 19: 4
October 18: 7
October 17: 2
October 16: 5
October 15: 6
October 14: 9
October 13: 7
October 12: 1
October 11: 3
October 10: 7
October 9: 6
October 8: 11
October 7: 4
October 6: 9
October 5: 2
October 4: 1
October 3: 4
October 2: 4
October 1: 5
September 30: 9
September 29: 10
September 28: 1
September 27: 3
September 26: 6
September 25: 7
September 24: 10
September 23: 7
September 22: 7
September 21: 2
September 20: 3
September 19: 3
September 18: 5
September 17: 3
September 16: 9
September 15: 9
September 14: 3
September 13: 4
September 12: 4
September 11: 9
September 10: 5
September 9: 7
September 8: 5
September 7: 2
September 6: 4
September 5: 7
September 4: 7
September 3: 9
September 2: 11
September 1: 7
August 31: 8
August 30: 4
August 29: 4
August 28: 9
August 27: 7
August 26: 11
August 25: 5
August 24: 3
August 23: 3
August 22: 3
August 21: 13
August 20: 8
August 19: 11
August 18: 10
August 17: 4
August 16: 4
August 15: 7
August 14: 10
August 13: 8
August 12: 9
August 11: 14
August 10: 4
August 9: 5
August 8: 9
August 7: 12
August 6: 8
August 5: 8
August 4: 11
August 3: 10
August 2: 6
August 1: 11
July 31: 10
July 30: 16
July 29: 18
July 28: 24
July 27: 17
July 26: 11
July 25: 16
July 24: 36
July 23: 23
July 22: 24
July 21: 21
July 20: 9
July 19: 11
July 18: 16
July 17: 20
July 16: 32
July 15: 27
July 14: 28
July 13: 22
July 12: 16
July 11: 49
July 10: 31
July 9: 28
July 8: 53
July 7: 52
July 6: 20
July 5: 23
July 4: 25
July 3: 58
July 2: 27
July 1: 45
June 30: 47
June 29: 18
June 28: 30
June 27: 36
June 26: 44
June 25: 26
June 24: 48
June 23: 57
June 22: 27
June 21: 17
June 20: 25
June 19: 37
June 18: 38
June 17: 47
June 16: 51
June 15: 52
June 14: 40
June 13: 103
June 12: 48
June 11: 70
June 10: 74
June 9: 91
June 8: 40
June 7: 79
June 6: 60
June 5: 79
June 4: 92
June 3: 112
June 2: 51
June 1: 27
May 31: 66
May 30: 113
May 29: 131
May 28: 66
May 27: 148
May 26: 54
May 25: 16
May 24: 52
May 23: 96
May 22: 146
May 21: 98
May 20: 168
May 19: 162
May 18: 83
May 17: 107
May 16: 116
May 15: 201
May 14: 244
May 13: 197
May 12: 198
May 11: 59
May 10: 140
May 9: 166
May 8: 162
May 7: 254
May 6: 308
May 5: 334
May 4: 45
May 3: 137
May 2: 205
May 1: 311
April 30: 460
April 29: 329
April 28: 402
April 27: 106
April 26: 75
April 25: 249
April 24: 253
April 23: 307
April 22: 314
April 21: 379
April 20: 177
April 19: 132
April 18: 231
April 17: 323
April 16: 362
April 15: 351
April 14: 365
April 13: 94
April 12: 168
April 11: 251
April 10: 233
April 9: 198
April 8: 275
April 7: 232
April 6: 86
April 5: 71
April 4: 200
April 3: 113
April 2: 182
April 1: 91
March 31: 69
March 30: 37
March 29: 21
March 28: 32
March 27: 27
March 26: 19
March 25: 18
March 24: 17
March 23: 7
March 22: 4
March 21: 5
March 20: 2
March 19: 4
March 18: 3
March 17: 0
March 16: 1
March 15: 0
March 14: 1
March 13: 0
March 12: 0
March 11: 0
March 10: 1
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This article originally appeared on the Asbury Park Patch
