This afternoon Governor Phil Murphy announced an additional 1,733 positive COVID-19 cases, increasing the statewide total to 966,946 confirmed cases. An additional 17 deaths were announced, increasing the statewide total to 24,275. The rate of transmission is 1.02. There are 5,666,812 fully vaccinated NJ residents. Governor Murphy mentioned that booster shots are expected to be administered in NJ in three weeks, pending CDC guidance. It will be recommended for individuals to receive a booster shot 6-8 months after their initial doses. On September 20th, 2.4 million people in NJ could be eligible for a booster shot. Governor Murphy reassured that there is ample supply and a solid delivery mechanism in place to meet the demand for booster shots. The Governor emphasized that most COVID-19 cases in our state are among unvaccinated individuals and encouraged anyone seeking to schedule a vaccine appointment to go to covid19.nj.gov/finder.
On Wednesday, Governor Murphy thanked President Joe Biden for coming to see firsthand the destruction as a result of Tropical Storm Ida. Earlier this week President Biden declared that a major disaster exists in the State of NJ and ordered Federal aid to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas impacted by the storm. The counties given disaster declaration are Bergen, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic, and Somerset. This declaration is crucial for families affected by the hurricane because it will provide individual families access to federal assistance to begin rebuilding their homes. Families impacted in the aforementioned counties can go to disasterassistance.gov to start their claim for disaster assistance through FEMA. The Governor emphasized that his Administration will continue pushing for more counties to be included under the disaster declaration. For families impacted by the storm in counties not yet included in the declaration, he said to go to nj.gov/ida to log damages to help NJ make its case for more counties to be included. All flags will be flown at half staff through dusk on Friday in honor of the 27 NJ residents that lost their lives due to flooding during the storm. There are still 4 people missing at this time.
Vaccine Distribution Information and Notices from NJ DOH
The New Jersey Legislature has passed legislation allowing them to virtually conduct committee meetings and voting sessions online. If you would like to view live Hearings and Voting Sessions, you may do so here.
