Attention NJCU Community:

In our ongoing commitment to timely and open communications, the purpose of this weekly update is to provide continual information on cases within our community and pertinent news to our campus — while also distributing important updates from the city, county, state and federal governments — and helpful guidelines. This weekend (March 6-7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), we will continue our partnership between the New Jersey Department of Health and Clinical Staffing Solutions and will be offering COVID-19 PCR testing to members of the local community. We also provide an important update on vaccination efforts from the City of Jersey City.

As of February 26, 2021, there have been 188 total positive cases within the NJCU community since September 1, including seven (7) additional cases in the last week. Documentation of reported cases are update regularly and can be found on NJCU’s COVID-19 website dashboard. Since February 15, our dashboard has been expanded to include daily case updates.

Learn more about COVID-19 Surveillance Testing at NJCU or signup for an appointment.

Click on this link to review NJCU’s procedure for reporting cases which was developed with direct guidance from the health department. 

What does it really mean to be a close contact? Currently, the CDC and the State of New Jersey define what constitutes being a close contact, with the state guidelines being the stricter of the two set of standards. Therefore, NJCU is following the guidance set force by the state. Click on each link in this section for additional information on the criteria.

NJCU has partnered with Diligent Urgent Care to provide COVID screenings, testing, and education for our NJCU campus. To schedule your Telemed visit: Click Here.

Should you have any questions or need assistance, please email telemedicine@diligenturgentcare.org or call 201-834-8887.

Please visit our NJCU COVID website for more information, including answers to FAQ’s (frequently asked questions).

Successfully dealing with the pandemic requires the shared responsibility of each and every one of us. For more information, please visit the NJCU COVID-19 responsibility statement.

Please use the COVID Concern Report to alert the COVID response team of a possible infection or any concerns regarding the utilization of our established safety protocols.      

To learn more about our safety precautions and all plans for a safe return to teaching, learning, living, and working, please visit njcu.edu/safecampus.

NJCU, in a partnership between the New Jersey Department of Health and Clinical Staffing Solutions, announced it will offer weekend COVID-19 PCR testing to members of the local community. The next scheduled clinics are March 6 and 7.

Testing will be available on alternate weekends through at least early April, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the second floor of the Gilligan Student Union Building on campus. Free parking will be provided in the NJCU garage, located on Culver Avenue, between John F. Kennedy Blvd. and West Side Avenue.

This event is open to the public. Pre-registration each weekend is recommended by visiting COVID.VLT.CO. For all others, no appointment is necessary, and individuals will be offered a test on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please be prepared to present a copy of your insurance card at the testing site; those without insurance will still be offered a COVID-19 test. Test results will be available within 3-5 days.

Please make sure to follow proper social distancing and PPE protocols. Appropriate face masks are required to enter all NJCU campus facilities.

TESTING DATES:

The World Health Organization offers more advice on proper nutrition for adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in the fourth in a series of infographics we include in this week's update. 

In this week's video from the CDC, tips for cleaning and disinfecting your home are provided if someone is infected with COVID-19.

On Monday, February 22, Governor Phil Murphy announced Executive Order No. 225, which increases capacity limits for religious services and large sports and entertainment venues. Additionally, limited spectators will be allowed at collegiate sporting events, mirroring last week’s announcement on youth sporting events.

Read the update from the state to learn about the loosened restrictions. Among the updates, NJCU student athletes are permitted to have two parents or guardians attend sporting events on campus.

Masks will still be required at all indoor venues and social distancing for members of different households.

Starting on March 1, venues with seating capacity of 5,000 or more can reopen to a limited number of fans; indoor arenas can resume at 10% capacity and outdoor arenas will be capped at 15%.

Earlier this month, Governor Murphy announced that the statewide requirement that all bars and restaurants end indoor service as of 10 p.m. has been lifted. The Governor also noted that he expects indoor dining restrictions will be further loosened in future announcements.

The State of New Jersey and the New Jersey Department of Health, has launched a website for residents of the state to signup to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in hospitals and clinics across New Jersey. To reserve your spot on the vaccine list and determine your eligibility, please pre-register by visiting the NJ Vaccine Scheduling System (NJVSS).

Recently, the State of New Jersey launched a COVID-19 vaccination call center for residents without a computer to make an appointment to receive a coronavirus vaccine. Live agents will staff the center — which can be reached at 855-568-0545.

Additionally, a list of vaccination facilities is available online on the state's COVID-19 information hub, which gives the phone numbers and websites to signup at each location. Smartphone users can use the portal above to register, or they can go directly to a facility’s website. 

Mayor Fulop provided an update this week to the city on expanding the Jersey City vaccine program. In early January, the city began its local vaccination program through Bespoke Health at the Bethune Center. It was decided to establish this locally in an effort to create a robust distribution program for residents, beyond just relying on the County structure. Similar to the robust testing program created when the pandemic began, the aim was to create easy access to vaccines for Jersey City residents.

The City's vaccine program rollout will entail a fully staffed vaccination site in each ward. Every location requires state approval, so each additional site will open in a phased approach as the state allocates more doses. Mayor Fulop announced the second of those six locations has opened at Ferris High School. 

When the local vaccine program began, the weekly allocation from the State of New Jersey was between 300 - 500 doses per week, and the demand greatly outweighed the supply. The State has begun to steadily increase that volume. Last week, the City reached its highest allocation to date: 2,500 doses administered to Jersey City in a single week. Jersey City has now administered 6,531 doses of the Moderna vaccine, with 5,243 being first doses and 1,288 being second doses.

Additionally, FEMA selected New Jersey as the first state to be a recipient of a community-based vaccine program grant. The State has selected Jersey City as one of its first cities for this program. The Fulop administration has been working closely with JCTogether on this initiative and last week held a conference call with more than 50 faith-based leaders with regards to their respective church, mosque, or temple facilitating sign-ups for vaccines. The Mayor encourages residents to reach out to their respective place of worship as another access point to secure a time for vaccination. This program will bring an additional 3,000 vaccines to Jersey City starting next week. 

As the City of Jersey City distributes vaccines and eligibility increases, we are the only city in the state that has set up a free ride structure through a partnership with Uber. This will make it easier for thousands of people in transit deserts to get the vaccine, and a fine example of the private sector working with government to overcome challenges to help our communities.