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COVID-19 Weekly Campus Update
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.
As of this newsletter, we have very important good news to report. As of this writing, NJCU, in a partnership with the North Hudson Community Action Corporation, will now be able to help facilitate vaccinations for our faculty and staff. Additionally, through this partnership, we will soon be able to schedule vaccination appointments for our students. More details are available in this update and in further communications you will receive in the coming days.
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NJCU Updates: April 2, 2021
As of April 2, 2021, there have been 216 total positive cases within the NJCU community since September 1, including 3 additional cases in the last week. Overall, 86 faculty/staff members have tested positive. There have been 130 cases among students — 111 among commuters. 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. Surveillance Testing Continues
NJCU is utilizing a targeted testing approach based on the risk of transmission of COVID-19 within the university community to identify those who may have COVID but are a-symptomatic. This method is known as surveillance testing.
Surveillance testing continues on campus this week and will be offered each week on Tuesdays and Thurdays until at least the summer. Each week, we encourage you to sign up for an on-campus appointment. Register anytime; there are 8 time slots available from which to choose. Appointments are available next week on Tuesday, March 30 and Thursday, April 1 between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Learn more about COVID-19 Surveillance Testing at NJCU or signup for an appointment.
Procedures for Reporting Cases
What Does It Mean to Be a Close Contact?
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.
Telemed Appointments
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. Please visit our NJCU COVID website for more information, including answers to FAQ’s (frequently asked questions).
Social ResponsibilitySuccessfully 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. Safe Campus
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.
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All Higher Education Employees Eligible for Vaccination as of April 5Effective Monday, April 5, 2021, the State of New Jersey is expanding vaccine eligibility to a variety of groups including notably to educators and staff at higher education institutions. This wonderful news marks an important and essential step towards the University’s planned safe return to pre-pandemic operations.
We strongly urge the eligible members of our University community to get vaccinated. As Donna M Chiera, president of the American Federation of Teachers New Jersey has remarked “having higher education employees vaccinated will make the opening of college and university campuses safe for our students, our members, their families and the communities they live in.”
In an extraordinary effort to increase immediate access to the vaccines, the University is proud to announce that it has partnered with North Hudson Community Action Corporation and Hudson County Community College to facilitate direct and priority access to vaccines to our campus community commencing the week of April 5, 2021. The University’s remarkable nursing program will be assisting with the exponential expansion of vaccinations especially within our underserved communities. Additional information as to vaccination locations and registration will follow.
These collaborative efforts coupled with our individual commitments to public health and safety will help usher in a post-pandemic university that finds itself stronger and more tethered to the communities it serves.
Please remain vigilant, stay safe, and be well. We’ll prevail over this pandemic together.
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Video of the Week
In this week's video, here's what to expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccination.
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COVID is Not Over
With temperatures warming and more people beginning to enjoy the weather outdoors, we must remind the NJCU community to stay vigilant in the fight against COVID-19 and not be complacent while vaccination efforts are underway. NJ.com shares this story.
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FEMA to Help Pay Funeral Costs for COVID-19-Related Deaths
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced on March 24 that beginning in early April, FEMA will begin providing financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020 for deaths related to coronavirus (COVID-19) to help ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the pandemic. FEMA is now moving rapidly to implement this funeral assistance program nationwide. To learn who is eligible for COVID-19 funeral assistance from FEMA or learn more about this new federal policy, read more.
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Next Community COVID Testing To Be Held Weekend of April 10-11
NJCU, in a partnership between the New Jersey Department of Health and Clinical Staffing Solutions, is offering weekend COVID-19 PCR testing to members of the local community. The next scheduled clinics are April 10-11.
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: - Saturday, April 10, 2021 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
- Sunday, April 11, 2021 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
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CDC Advisory: Fully-Vaccinated People Can Gather Without Masks
As if we needed another good reason to be vaccinated for COVID-19, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says fully-vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing, according to long-awaited guidance from federal health officials. Read more from NJ.com.
Additionally, the CDC says fully vaccinated people can resume domestic travel and do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel. Furthermore, fully vaccinated people do not need to get tested before leaving the United States (unless required by the destination) or self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States. Read more guidance from the CDC.
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State of New Jersey Updates
As noted above, beginning April 5, the State of New Jersey is expanding vaccine eligibility to a variety of groups including notably to educators and staff at higher education institutions and NJCU will help you facilitate receiving a vaccination. Additionally, beginning April 5th, individuals aged 55 and older, additional frontline essential workers, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities 16 and over, detailed below, will be eligible to book appointments. This article from the New Jersey COVID-19 information hub, details the phases of vaccination eligibility. - More than 4.47 million vaccine doses have been administered. Hudson County has received 236, 905 doses and over 30,000 vaccines have been administered in Jersey City.
- More than 2.87 million residents have received at least one vaccine dose. Overall, according to NPR, New Jersey ranks eighth nationally — up one place from last week — in total persons receiving at least one dose, now at 34.1 percent.
- The state reports 1,690,613 residents are now fully vaccinated. That is equivalent to 19.0 percent of the population of 8,882,190. That exceeds the national average of 16.9 percent.
Beginning today, outdoor gatherings of up to 200 people are now allowed after Gov. Phil Murphy announced earlier in the week he was loosening the coronavirus restriction. The increase is up from the limit of 25 people. Indoor gatherings, meanwhile, are still capped at 25 people.
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Sign Up for the COVID-19 Vaccine
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).
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State Launches Call Center for COVID Vaccination Appointments
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.
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Updates from the City of Jersey City
Vaccine Transportation
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. Where to Get Vaccinated in Jersey City? Jersey City Opens Sixth Vaccination Center to Accommodate Expanded Eligibility
The Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the opening of the City’s sixth vaccination site located near the Marin Boulevard Light Rail Station, effective March 28. The new site coincides with the expansion of New Jersey’s eligibility requirements to additional frontline workers including all food and restaurant workers, grocery store workers, porters, hospitality workers, warehouse workers, those in the medical supply chain, and more. [ Read More]
The seven City-run vaccination sites include:
- 140 MLK Drive (Mary McLeod Bethune Community Center)
- 335 Bergen Ave (Maureen Collier Senior Center)
- 28 Paterson Street (Joseph Connors Senior Center)
- 100 Marin Blvd (Marin Light Rail Station)
- 164 Laidlaw Avenue (PS #26)
- 35 Colgate Street (Ferris High School)
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Question of the Week
What Not To Do When You Get A COVID-19 Vaccine?
If you are about to get vaccinated, you may be wondering how to mitigate potential side effects or whether your daily routine needs to be adjusted. Can you exercise and drink alcohol after your shot? Would taking ibuprofen be a good idea? Can you get a tattoo?
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