In August, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the updated bivalent COVID-19 booster shots to protect against the most prevalent omicron strains in addition to the initial COVID-19 strain of the virus for people who have had their last COVID-19 shot at least two months prior. However, some medical experts are recommending that…
Evidence thus far shows that pregnant people infected with SARS-CoV-2 are at higher risk for severe disease and death, as well as complications in their pregnancies. Early in the pandemic, maternal-fetal health specialists had to confront the fact that there were no easy answers they could give their patients regarding how COVID-19 might affect their…
TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy, Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, and Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli today announced that New Jersey is opening additional vaccination sites for monkeypox in Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, and Passaic counties for residents without a confirmed exposure who believe they may have been exposed or are at high risk for having been…
The state may be scaling back COVID-19 testing requirements for workers but Rutgers University is not. School officials this week decided to maintain safety requirements for students and employees this fall — including being fully vaccinated and boosted and wearing face coverings in all indoor teaching spaces, libraries and labs. Unvaccinated students and staff must…
Governor’s call to action recognizes adolescents and young adults still struggling with emotional aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic. Last Friday, Gov. Phil Murphy became the chairman of the National Governors Association during the organization’s summer meeting in Portland, Maine. In his new role, Murphy announced his “Strengthening Youth Mental Health” initiative to address the mental health…
After federal health leaders further relaxed COVID-19 quarantine guidelines, New Jersey will no longer require state workers, government contractors or employees of school districts or child-care facilities to be regularly tested for the coronavirus if they are not immunized, essentially making vaccinations optional for these groups. Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order Monday immediately…
RAVEN SANTANA, CORRESPONDENT | MARCH 14, 2022 | CORONAVIRUS IN NJ, HEALTH CARE New MSU study shows stress related to academics, finances and COVID-19 As we enter the third year of this pandemic, we are getting a clearer picture of how the isolation and changes impacted people’s mental health, including that of college students. Many entered college hoping…
Updated: Feb. 08, 2022, 9:26 a.m. | Published: Feb. 07, 2022, 6:32 p.m. Newark Public Schools, the largest district in New Jersey, will continue to require students to wear face masks even after the state mandate ends March 7, a school official confirmed to NJ Advance Media on Monday. “The wearing of masks is part of…
JOANNA GAGIS, CORRESPONDENT | DECEMBER 30, 2021 | HEALTH CARE Fewer kids were tested for lead in 2020, the latest year for which data is available. New Jersey is seeing an increase in the number of children with elevated levels of lead in their blood. The pandemic forced many kids to spend additional time at home where…
The Biden administration announced Friday that Americans can begin ordering free at-home COVID-19 rapid tests starting Jan. 19. Orders for up to four tests per household can be placed using the website COVIDtests.gov. The administration will also set up a phone number so those without access to computers or high-speed internet can place orders. The White…