4 NJ Coronavirus Bills Signed Into Law As Deaths Hit 3-Month High

Asbury Park NJ

23 October, 2020

1:26 PM

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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; andOne 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 66Daughters of Miriam, Clifton, Passaic 48Marcella Center, Burlington Twp, Burlington 38Alaris Health at Hamilton Park, Jersey City, Hudson 35Advanced Subacute Rehabilitation Center, Mantua, Gloucester 31Gateway Care Center, Eatontown, Monmouth 30Hamilton Grove, Hamilton Twp, Mercer 28Brighton Gardens of Florham Park, Florham Park Boro, Morris 25Abingdon Care and Rehabilitation Center, Green Brook Twp, Somerset 25Alaris at Castle Hill, Union City, Hudson 20Anchor Care and Rehabilitation, Hazlet, Monmouth 20AristaCare at Norwood Terrace, Plainfield, Union 20Genesis Healthcare Burlington Woods , Burlington Twp, Burlington 18Wedgewood Gardens, Freehold Twp, Monmouth 16Riverside Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Trenton, Mercer 15Cedar Crest - Mountainview Gardens, Pequannock, Morris 15New Lisbon Developmental Center, Pemberton, Burlington 14Merry Heart Nursing Home, Roxbury Twp, Morris 14North Cape Center, Cape May, Cape_May 13Complete Care At Holiday City, Toms River Twp, Ocean 13The Chelsea at Fanwood, Fanwood, Union 11Spring Oaks at Berlin, Berlin Boro, Camden 10Buckingham at Norwood, Norwood, Bergen 9Merwick Care & Rehabilitation Center, Plainsboro, Middlesex 9Allegria at Ocean Grove, Neptune Twp, Monmouth 9Somerset Woods Rehabilitation & Nursing Center §, Franklin Twp, Somerset 9Lantern Hill, New Providence, Union 9Monroe Village (Village Point) REHAB, Monroe Twp, Middlesex 8Vineland Developmental Center, Vineland, Cumberland 7"Royal Health Gate Nursing," Trenton, Mercer 7Cedar Crest Senior Living Community, Pequannock, Morris 7Brighton Gardens at Mountainside, Mountainside, Union 6Brookdale Echelon Lakes, Voorhees Twp, Camden 5Bayside Manor, Keansburg, Monmouth 5Sunrise of Madison, Madison Boro, Morris 5Parker at Somerset, Franklin Twp, Somerset 5Stonebridge at Montgomery, Montgomery, Somerset 5Riverview Estates, Riverton, Burlington 4The Pines at Whiting, Manchester, Ocean 4Bridgeway Care And Rehabilitation Center At Hillsborough , Hillsborough, Somerset 4Brookdale Senior Living, Cape May, Cape_May 3Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland, Vineland, Cumberland 3Montclair Manor, Montclair, Essex 3Shady Lane Nursing Home, East Greenwich, Gloucester 3Hunterdon Developmental Center, Union Twp, Hunterdon 3Dellridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center §, Paramus, Bergen 2Avista Health Care, Cherry Hill, Camden 2Preferred Care at Absecon, Absecon, Atlantic 1The Bristal in Englewood, Englewood, Bergen 1Laurel Brook Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Mt Laurel, Burlington 1Atria Voorhees, Voorhees Twp, Camden 1Woodbine Developmental Center, Woodbine, Cape_May 1Lincoln Specialty Care Center, Vineland, Cumberland 1Alaris Health at Essex, Irvington, Essex 1Washington Township Senior Living, Washington Twp, Gloucester 1Brighton Gardens of Middletown, Middletown, Monmouth 1Ashbrook Care and Rehabilitation Center, Scotch Plains, Union 1 Here is a look at new coronavirus cases by day: October 23: 1,139October 22: 1,182October 21: 1,062October 20: 1,036October 19: 1,192October 18: 1,282October 17: 958October 16: 823October 15: 973October 14: 953October 13: 993October 12: 478October 11: 751October 10: 901October 9: 881October 8: 1,301October 7: 514October 6: 651October 5: 522October 4: 637October 3: 957October 2: 796October 1: 663September 30: 722September 29: 505September 28: 561September 27: 712September 26: 760September 25: 612September 24: 588September 23: 430September 22: 457September 21: 396September 20: 457September 19: 489September 18: 519September 17: 617September 16: 447September 15: 498September 14: 346September 13: 306September 12: 487September 11: 518September 10: 507September 9: 356September 8: 284September 7: 344September 6: 360September 5: 370September 4: 478September 3: 455September 2: 329September 1: 365August 31: 352August 30: 306August 29: 388August 28: 372August 27: 374August 26: 288August 25: 346August 24: 225August 23: 288August 22: 427August 21: 313August 20: 302August 19: 399August 18: 400August 17: 316August 16: 329August 15: 464August 14: 585August 13: 699August 12: 484August 11: 498August 10: 258August 9: 378August 8: 379August 7: 384August 6: 411August 5: 378August 4: 416August 3: 264August 2: 331August 1: 393July 31: 699July 30: 261July 29: 489July 28: 565July 27: 446July 26: 512July 25: 547July 24: 488July 23: 344July 22: 390July 21: 424July 20: 177July 19: 144July 18: 309July 17: 202July 16: 254July 15: 396July 14: 423July 13: 231July 12: 349July 11: 438July 10: 367July 9: 354July 8: 335July 7: 310July 6: 216July 5: 398July 4: 303July 3: 386July 2: 539July 1: 423June 30: 461June 29: 156June 28: 354June 27: 347June 26: 524June 25: 406June 24: 317June 23: 382June 22: 359June 21: 411June 20: 446June 19: 516June 18: 442June 17: 330June 16: 470June 15: 274June 14: 305June 13: 523June 12: 495June 11: 539June 10: 611June 9: 375June 8: 356June 7: 426June 6: 606June 5: 864June 4: 603June 3: 652June 2: 708June 1: 509May 31: 868May 30: 910May 29: 1,117May 28: 1,261May 27: 970May 26: 703May 25: 965May 24: 1,065May 23: 443May 22: 1,394May 21: 1,304May 20: 1,670May 19: 1,055May 18: 1,735May 17: 1,272May 16: 1,239May 15: 1,297May 14: 1,216May 13: 1,028May 12: 898May 11: 1,453May 10: 1,503May 9: 1,759May 8: 1,985May 7: 1,827May 6: 1,513May 5: 2,494May 4: 1,621May 3: 3,144May 2: 2,912May 1: 2,651April 30: 2,633April 29: 2,481April 28: 2,887April 27: 2,146April 26: 3,730April 25: 3,457April 24: 3,047April 23: 4,427April 22: 3,551April 21: 3,644April 20: 3,528April 19: 3,915April 18: 3,026April 17: 3,250April 16: 4,391April 15: 2,625April 14: 4,049April 13: 3,219April 12: 3,733April 11: 3,599April 10: 3,627April 9: 3,748April 8: 3,088April 7: 3,361April 6: 3,663April 5: 3,482April 4: 4,331April 3: 4,372April 2: 3,489April 1: 3,649March 31: 2,196March 30: 3,347March 29: 2,316March 28: 2,289March 27: 1,982March 26: 2,492March 25: 736March 24: 846March 23: 935March 22: 590March 21: 442March 20: 155March 19: 318March 18: 162March 17: 89March 16: 80March 15: 31March 14: 19March 13: 21March 12: 21March 11: 8March 10: 4March 9: 5March 8: 6March 7: 1March 6: 1March 5: 1March 4: 1 Here is a look at coronavirus deaths by day: October 23: 11October 22: 18October 21: 18October 20: 13October 19: 4October 18: 7October 17: 2October 16: 5October 15: 6October 14: 9October 13: 7October 12: 1October 11: 3October 10: 7October 9: 6October 8: 11October 7: 4October 6: 9October 5: 2October 4: 1October 3: 4October 2: 4October 1: 5September 30: 9September 29: 10September 28: 1September 27: 3September 26: 6September 25: 7September 24: 10September 23: 7September 22: 7September 21: 2September 20: 3September 19: 3September 18: 5September 17: 3September 16: 9September 15: 9September 14: 3September 13: 4September 12: 4September 11: 9September 10: 5September 9: 7September 8: 5September 7: 2September 6: 4September 5: 7September 4: 7September 3: 9September 2: 11September 1: 7August 31: 8August 30: 4August 29: 4August 28: 9August 27: 7August 26: 11August 25: 5August 24: 3August 23: 3August 22: 3August 21: 13August 20: 8August 19: 11August 18: 10August 17: 4August 16: 4August 15: 7August 14: 10August 13: 8August 12: 9August 11: 14August 10: 4August 9: 5August 8: 9August 7: 12August 6: 8August 5: 8August 4: 11August 3: 10August 2: 6August 1: 11July 31: 10July 30: 16July 29: 18July 28: 24July 27: 17July 26: 11July 25: 16July 24: 36July 23: 23July 22: 24July 21: 21July 20: 9July 19: 11July 18: 16July 17: 20July 16: 32July 15: 27July 14: 28July 13: 22July 12: 16July 11: 49July 10: 31July 9: 28July 8: 53July 7: 52July 6: 20July 5: 23July 4: 25July 3: 58July 2: 27July 1: 45June 30: 47June 29: 18June 28: 30June 27: 36June 26: 44June 25: 26June 24: 48June 23: 57June 22: 27June 21: 17June 20: 25June 19: 37June 18: 38June 17: 47June 16: 51June 15: 52June 14: 40June 13: 103June 12: 48June 11: 70June 10: 74June 9: 91June 8: 40June 7: 79June 6: 60June 5: 79June 4: 92June 3: 112June 2: 51June 1: 27May 31: 66May 30: 113May 29: 131May 28: 66May 27: 148May 26: 54May 25: 16May 24: 52May 23: 96May 22: 146May 21: 98May 20: 168May 19: 162May 18: 83May 17: 107May 16: 116May 15: 201May 14: 244May 13: 197May 12: 198May 11: 59May 10: 140May 9: 166May 8: 162May 7: 254May 6: 308May 5: 334May 4: 45May 3: 137May 2: 205May 1: 311April 30: 460April 29: 329April 28: 402April 27: 106April 26: 75April 25: 249April 24: 253April 23: 307April 22: 314April 21: 379April 20: 177April 19: 132April 18: 231April 17: 323April 16: 362April 15: 351April 14: 365April 13: 94April 12: 168April 11: 251April 10: 233April 9: 198April 8: 275April 7: 232April 6: 86April 5: 71April 4: 200April 3: 113April 2: 182April 1: 91March 31: 69March 30: 37March 29: 21March 28: 32March 27: 27March 26: 19March 25: 18March 24: 17March 23: 7March 22: 4March 21: 5March 20: 2March 19: 4March 18: 3March 17: 0March 16: 1March 15: 0March 14: 1March 13: 0March 12: 0March 11: 0March 10: 1 New 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