MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey’s citizens remain locked down while the economy suffers, and the administration continues to deny doctors the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat their patients.

“New Jersey is behind the curve and we’ve got to catch up,” said Senator Pennacchio (R-1). “Doctors must be unshackled so they can follow the lead of their colleagues around the globe who are using HCQ responsibly and safely. Lives depend on it, and the re-opening of our economy depends on it.”

Recent statements by Turkey’s health minister and a retrospective analysis of coronavirus date from nations around the world have yielded more evidence that hydroxychloroquine can prevent the onset of potentially fatal pneumonia in virus victims and notes a clear disparity in the spread of the disease between countries using the anti-malarial drug and those that are not.

Most of the patients who moved to intensive care or placed on ventilators are there because they have developed pneumonia.

“Many countries prescribe this drug to intubated patients. However, our science board suggested that the drug is really beneficial in the early stages to prevent the spread of the virus in the body,” Turkish health minister Fahrettin Koca explained in a published report. “We believe beginning early treatment [with this drug] played a big role in reducing the rate of lung infection among the patients.”

Koca told Middle East Eye, a London-based news outlet, that the drug was effective against pneumonia, which is seen as one of the leading causes of death from the virus.

Statistics released by the Turkish health ministry showed that since beginning the treatment, new cases of lung disease among coronavirus patients significantly, down by 20 percent.

“We believe beginning early treatment [with this drug] played a big role in reducing the rate of lung infection among the patients,” Koca noted.

In an analysis titled “Countries Which Primarily use Antimalarial Drugs as COVID-19 Treatment See Slower Dynamic of Daily Deaths,” published on Elsevier’s health research portal SSRN and authored by Maxime Izoule compared daily COVID-19 deaths in 16 countries. The research compared those countries that used HCQ in treatment against those who did not.

“We find major differences in death rates, with countries using antimalarial drugs faring better than those which do not,” the report stated in its conclusion. “The difference in dynamics is so striking that we believe that the urgency context commands presenting this analysis before delving into further analysis.”

“The political and medical debates will continue, but there is growing proof HCQ can help control coronavirus in our communities and keep people alive while scientists scramble to find a cure,” said Senator Pennacchio. “New Jersey is a hotbed for coronavirus, and time is not on our side. “Unshackle doctors and allow them to tools to treat their patients.”

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of Freeholders will meet on Wednesday evening, April 22, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the meeting will be held via a telephone conference call that is open to all county residents.

The Freeholder Board’s work session that had been scheduled for April 22 at 4:30 p.m. in Morristown has been canceled. Instead, there just will be one public meeting via phone at 7:00 p.m.

The Freeholder Board held similar phone-in sessions for its meeting on March 25 and April 6.

“County government still has a vital obligation to continue operating, to be sure we serve our residents in this time of need. But we also have to be aware of the need for public distancing and to avoid large gatherings,” said Freeholder Director Deborah Smith. “We invite you to listen in to our meeting and to participate in the comment portion of the meeting, and I look forward to meeting you in person at our future meetings.”

Residents are invited to call into the April 22 meeting:

Call: 1-201-546-5293

Guest Passcode: 439862

Residents are asked to mute their phones as they listen, and to speak only during the public comment period. Please try to “line up” politely with other callers during the comment period. It would be much appreciated.

MORRIS COUNTY —  Morris County has risen to 4327 an increase of 170 cases since last reported on Monday, April 20. A total of 291 deaths have been reported in Morris County. In New Jersey a total of 92,387 with a total of 4,753 deaths.

The County of Morris, in partnership with Atlantic Health, is offering drive-thru COVID-19 testing at the County College of Morris, Dover Chester Road, Randolph, NJ 07869, in parking lot 1. Testing is scheduled beginning at 9:00 a.m. and is for Morris County residents only. There is no fee for the test.

To sign up for an appointment online click here for details.

The figures reflect COVID-19 positive cases as of the date and time indicated, some cases which may be pending, or have yet to be entered into the system.

Please note the following limitations and provisos related to the data above:

• COVID-19-related deaths are not included in this data. Visit the State of NJ COVID-19 Dashboard for a summary of death totals.
• Pursuant to HIPAA, specific identifying health information of persons testing positive or who have passed due to the virus will not be released.
• Data reflects COVID-19 positive cases on dates and times indicated; some cases may be pending and are not yet entered.
• Data may not include cases with incomplete or incorrect street addresses or PO boxes. Such cases require additional investigation by local health officials.
• Figures do not include persons under quarantine/isolation due to exposure and who have not tested positive.
• The numbers, especially higher numbers, do not necessarily reflect community spread in a specific town. Various factors may be related to high numbers, such as increased testing and facilities with high-risk populations.
• This data should not be used to gauge if heightened precautions are needed in specific towns. Social distancing, hand hygiene, and preventive steps must be followed at all times regardless of the number of cases in a municipality.

Updates from Morris County

MORRIS COUNTY — Medical waste, such as gloves, wipes, masks, and tissues, which are being widely used by all Morris County residents due to the COVID-19 pandemic, should not be placed into curbside recycling containers.

They are contaminants and must be put into the trash, advises the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, which handles recycling for 14 of Morris County’s 39 municipalities.

Recycling crews in many towns across the county are finding high rates of gloves and masks ending up in the recycling mix, with workers at recycling plants having to sort out these items by hand.

When these materials end up in the recycling stream, along with items such as plastic bags and plastic film, they can cause problems at the county’s recycling sorting facility. They can jam the rotating screens and cause equipment to breakdown.

At recycling facilities, workers must try to remove these items, along with any other unacceptable items, before they enter the automated sorting process.

Keeping these items out of the recycling stream is important to preventing system breakdowns and important to the health and safety of workers at the recycling facility.

For more information on proper recycling and trash disposal visit the Morris County MUA’s website by clicking here.

PARSIPPANY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) will hold a third COVID-19 telephone town hall on Thursday, April 23, focused on mental health and health care services. Representative Sherrill will be joined by mental health and medical professionals who will help answer questions from residents and she will give an update on what she has been doing to support COVID-19 response efforts in New Jersey.

“The COVID-19 crisis has touched every aspect of our lives,” said Representative Sherrill. “As our community faces the loss of neighbors and loved ones to the disease, economic hardship and uncertainty, and the isolation that comes from social distancing, we must take care of both our physical and mental health. Our town hall this week will focus on resources available to residents, and we will have medical professionals from the community on the line ready to answer questions about COVID-19 and testing.”

The town hall will also stream live at 4:50 p.m. directly on Representative Sherrill’s website.

WHAT:            Telephone Town Hall on Mental Health Services and Health Care Response
WHO:              Representative Mikie Sherrill
WHEN:            Thursday, April 23, at 4:50 p.m. EST
WHERE:           Residents can register for the Telephone Town Hall by clicking here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Meet Lily! This gorgeous cowgirl is ready to find her forever home after birthing and weaning her pups!

Lily was rescued from a local, municipal shelter where she came in very, very bad shape. Lily was part of a neglect case and they soon realized she was pregnant and reached out to us.

While Lily clearly had a hard life before coming to us, she could not be sweeter or friendlier with her family if she tried! Lily loves to cuddle, lay on your lap, and be a couch potato!a

Lily definitely enjoys a walk and a romp in the yard, but she is not a high energy pup despite her being so young. Lily is potty-trained and walks well on a leash. She would prefer a home with someone who is home more often than not because she loves being with people.

Due to her past, Lily has a hard time trusting strangers. She absolutely loves her family but will need people to understand her limitations with strangers. Lily can live with other dogs and children 16+!

If you’re looking for a dog who wants to give you all the love in the world and more, apply to adopt Lily today! If you are interested in adopting Lily, please fill out an application by clicking here.

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