MORRIS COUNTY — With a heavy heart, I am saddened to announce our campaign has come to an end. I am proud to have joined women up and down the ballot for this crucial moment in time. Our campaign has been focused on amplifying the voices of teachers, essential workers, small businesses, and working families in New Jersey. However, the COVID-19 crisis has shone a light on all of the cracks in our system and we stepped up to fight for sensible leadership.

This campaign is historic because of the support and involvement of women across the state, the South Asian community, and our youth. Collectively, we broke the glass ceiling and opened up many doors for future leaders to come.

To every volunteer, intern, voter, and donor – sincerely thank you. Your support and generosity have brought us to this monumental moment. You showed up to make thousands of calls during these unprecedented times. You put your trust in me to build a better New Jersey for you.

Even if I was the first South Asian woman to run for statewide office in New Jersey, I most certainly will not be the last. We will keep on fighting because representation will always matter.

Congratulations Senator Bucco on your re-election. It is imperative we work together during these challenging times to always put LD-25’s needs first and to truly focus on bipartisan efforts.

MORRISTOWN — As the number of positive cases in Morris County increases, Morristown Memorial Hospital has adjusted its visiting hours and procedures. Morris County has seen an increase of over 600 new positive cases within one week, with 229 cases reported in the past 24 hours. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Morris County had 11,018 cases; 703 confirmed deaths; and 146 probable deaths.

“For the safety and wellbeing of patients, visitors, support persons, and health care professionals, visitor restrictions are in place at our hospitals. This includes Chilton, Hackettstown, Newton, Overlook and Morristown medical centers, as well as Goryeb Children’s Hospital. The policy includes hospital visiting hours, restrictions, and COVID-19 safety measures along with special guidelines for maternity and certain neonatal and pediatric units.”

• The adjusted visiting hours for Morristown Medical Center are between 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
  
• Hospital visitors will be required to complete temperature and symptom screening upon entering the facility, including a travel inquiry. If the visitor does not pass any element of the screening, they will not be permitted to visit. If they pass, they will be limited to visit non-COVID patients/units only.
• All visitors arriving from states or countries under a travel advisory that requires a 14-day quarantine upon arrival to New Jersey, will not be permitted to enter any Atlantic Health System facility.
  • Find the list of states for which NJ requires quarantine>  This list is updated frequently; please check it regularly.
  • Find the list of countries that require quarantine >
• All visitors must be 18 years of age or older except for the rare exception as determined by the facility.
• The hospital strongly recommends inpatients be limited to one healthy visitor per day. The healthy visitor can change day-to-day, unless:
  • The patient is a minor, in which case the pediatric patient may have both parents or guardians, or
  • At the facility’s discretion, a limited number of additional persons may be determined to be appropriate. Rare exceptions for unique circumstances will be made only after consultation and approval by the medical center nurse management team.
• All visitors will be required to wear face coverings and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at all times. They may wear their own cloth mask, or a mask will be provided upon entry. A vented mask may only be worn with a surgical mask placed over it. Any visitor refusing to wear a mask or other PPE as indicated will be asked to leave the facility.
• Pediatric Inpatient Units and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU):
  • The same two healthy parents, guardians, or caregivers who are identified by the family initially will be the only approved visitors. Rare exceptions for unique circumstances will be made only after consultation and approval by the medical center nurse manager or assistant nurse manager.
  • One parent or guardian is permitted to stay overnight (in addition to daytime visiting). A second parent or guardian can also be present from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Caregivers staying overnight must arrive by 8:00 p.m.
  • Visitors must remain in the patient’s room as much as possible.
  • Visitors must remain masked both in and outside of the patient’s room and when staff enters the room.
• COVID-19 Travel Advisory for Pediatrics
  • If an inpatient minor’s parent is within the 14-day quarantine period and there is no option to have a lower-risk parent or guardian be present, then only one parent will be permitted to visit, and that parent must wear a mask whenever staff is present in the room. The parent will be asked to stay in the room for the duration of the hospitalization.
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU):
  • During maternal hospitalization, two individuals given visitor wristbands (i.e., parents or caregivers) may visit their newborn infant in the NICU any time of day (24/7).
  • After maternal discharge from the hospital, the two individuals with visitor wristbands may visit separately between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. for the duration of the newborn hospitalization.
  • Two individuals with visitor wristbands may both come on the day of their infant’s discharge.
  • Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis (i.e. transfers from other hospitals whereby at the initial visit to the NICU both individuals with visitor wristbands will be permitted, parent conferences with the health care team, and day of infant surgery).
• Maternity
  • One designated support person is permitted with a pregnant patient during labor, delivery, and the entire postpartum hospital stay.
  • The support person can be the patient’s spouse, partner, sibling, or another person that they choose.
  • A doula who is part of the patient’s care team is permitted and does not count as a support person.
• Procedural Areas
  • To promote social distancing and keep everyone safe, one designated support person is permitted to accompany a patient having an ambulatory procedure.
  • We encourage all support people to drop their loved ones off and provide a contact phone number so that we can regularly communicate the status of the patient.
  • We will contact you with ample time to return and pick up your loved one.
  • We would be happy to provide you with a list of local restaurants and stores that you can visit during the procedure.

Once in the hospital or facility, visitors shall remain in the patient’s room (or emergency department bay) as much as possible throughout the visit, except when directed by hospital or facility staff to leave during aerosol-generating procedures or other procedures in which visitors are usually asked to leave. Visitors may use designated eating locations within the medical center and other amenities available to patients or visitors. 

MORRIS COUNTY — Seniors and adults with disabilities can pick up one of 500 free emergency supply kits. Each contains four shelf-stable meals and a first aid kit.

The distribution will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Monday, November 23, at the Morris County Library, 30 East Hanover Avenue, Whippany. Homebound residents can call (973) 285-6848 to determine if a kit can be delivered. All Morris County residents who are 60 or over and adults with disabilities qualify.

Navigating Hope, Morris County’s mobile social services vehicle, will be on-site during the distribution for anyone who would like more information on county services.

“Being prepared is important in all emergencies, whether it’s a pandemic or a storm. Having self-stable meals is incredibly important. These meals can be a stopgap if someone is homebound or unable to go out for food,” said Christine Hellyer, Division Director of Morris County’s Office on Aging, Disabilities, & Community Programming, which is sponsoring the event.

Funding for this program was made possible through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 195, which permits municipalities and counties to impose additional restrictions on the hours of operation of non-essential retail businesses, food and beverage establishments, and recreation and entertainment businesses after 8:00 p.m. The Order prohibits municipalities and counties from imposing restrictions that prevent dining establishments from arranging for the pickup or delivery of goods or otherwise limiting their scope of operations. The Order will take effect immediately.

“I’ve been clear that our approach to the second wave is to act surgically within hotspot areas,” said Governor Murphy. “Today’s action maintains overall consistency across the state while also empowering local elected officials with the discretion to address situations where restricting the operating hours of certain businesses in the evening will help stop the spread of COVID-19.”

Governor Murphy’s Executive Order states that any county or municipal restriction that in any way conflicts with any provision of statewide rules will be invalidated. Examples of such restrictions include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Any additions to or deletions from the list of retail businesses deemed essential or that have been identified as essential through Administrative Orders authorized by the Governor’s Executive Orders;
2. Any limitations imposed on any business’s scope of service;
3. Any density or social distancing requirements;
4. Any orders relating to the gathering of individuals; and
5. General restrictions on the freedom of movement within that county or municipality, including but not limited to the imposition of curfews.

Click here to download a copy of Executive Order 195.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Freeholder Tayfun Selen declared victory today in the Morris County Freeholder race. 73.66% of the votes are counted and Selen was ahead by 11,461 and the gap widens.

Tayfun said “I want to congratulate my opponent, Cary Amaro, on a competitive and hard-fought race that challenged us both in unprecedented ways. After reviewing the recent vote count, I am confident in declaring victory today and want to thank the citizens of Morris County for putting their faith in me. Only in America can someone go from an immigrant who pumped gas to make ends meet 24 years ago to an elected official representing nearly a half million people today. I’m honored and humbled and look forward to making Morris County an even better place to live over the next three years.”

MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy’s new Executive Order 194 went into effect on Thursday, November 12, imposing new restrictions on restaurants, casinos, and sporting events as COVID-19 cases continue to mount in New Jersey.

The restrictions involve seating and hours for restaurants, bars, clubs, and lounges as well as prohibitions of interstate indoor K-12 and youth sports. Included in the restrictions are:

1. Restaurants, bars, clubs, lounges, and other businesses that serve food or drinks will not be able to operate their indoor premises between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.  Outdoor dining can continue after 10:00 p.m., as can takeout and delivery services.
2. Casinos will not be able to serve food or drinks between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., with the exception of room service delivered to guest rooms and takeout.  Other casino operations will be unaffected.

Bar seating restrictions and rules include:

1. Seating at the physical bar in the indoor areas of bars and restaurants will be prohibited during all operating hours.
2. Due to the impact, this may have on restaurants with small seating areas, restaurants will be allowed to have groups at tables indoors that are closer than six feet together if they are separated by barriers that comply with guidance from the Department of Health.
3. Restaurants will be allowed to set up plastic domes outdoors, limited to one group each, as additional outdoor dining space.

Restrictions on Interstate Indoor Sports Competitions include:

1. All interstate games and tournaments involving indoor sports, up to and including the high school level, will be prohibited.
2. Collegiate and professional sports will be unaffected.

For a copy of Executive Order No. 194, click here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome. The pandemic has changed how we do many things, but we refuse to let it cancel our traditions – especially when it comes to honoring our veterans. We could not deliver our annual honors in a large ceremony this year, so we went to them individually, presenting two Medals and one Special Resolution to recognize veterans on Veterans Day 2020 and the 245th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps.