WOND News

Cape May County Freeholder Jeffery Pierson announced that the Departments of Health and Mosquito Control will be working together to distribute 31,320 vaccine-laden baits throughout the mainland communities of Cape May County. Most of the baits will be distributed by helicopter and the remaining will be distributing by hand in raccoon habitats (such as storm drains) and other areas considered inaccessible from the air. If weather permits, the baits will be distributed starting the first week of June and be completed within one to two weeks.

Gov. Phil Murphy said today that the rate of COVID-19 spread has been greatly reduced since stay-at-home orders were put in place. However he does not want people to become lax now because we’ve been going through this so long. “We’ve come so far together so please stay vigilant. ” That said, Three long-term care residents are the latest to succumb to complications from Covid-19 according to the Atlantic County Division of Public Health this afternoon. Thirty-four additional positives were also confirmed today among 14 males, ages 18-95, and 20 females, ages 8-77. Atlantic County has confirmed a total of 2,307 residents who have tested positive for Covid-19 and 162 deaths. Sixty-two more residents have been cleared as recovered for a total of 956 to date.

During his daily briefing this afternoon it was announced officials are working on Crisis Intervention across the state in terms of how police will deal with suspects in the future. Pilot programs will be run in four cities including Atlantic City before eventually using it statewide. There will also be an expansion of “use of force” data base to report use of force by officers across New Jersey. That will include an incident response team, similar to one that existed in the Obama admiistration.

Meantime, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday. New Jersey is expanding the kinds of businesses that can open amid the COVID-19 outbreak, Restaurants can host outdoor diners and in-person retail will resume June 15, while salons and barbershops can open on June 22. Social distancing will still be required. The announcement marks the state’s move from stage 1 of reopening to stage 2, Murphy said. Moving to stage 3, which the governor has termed the “new normal,” depends on how the state’s trends go.

Good Samaritans carrying brooms, dustpans and shop vacuums joined hired crews Monday in Atlantic City to clear broken glass and other debris after vandalism and looting followed protests of the Minneapolis death of George Floyd. Young people from a church helped clear a shopping district that saw smashed windows and looting. Mayor Marty Small apologized to businesses for vandalism and looting that affected more than 20 businesses Sunday, most of them in The Walk, a shopping district. Seventeen people were arrested in connection with the looting, the mayor said, and six were Atlantic City residents. Small imposed a 7 p.m. curfew for the coming week.

The latest COVID-19 numbers as of this afternoon, only eight new cases and no deaths related to Covid-19 were reported earlier today, according to the Atlantic County Division of Public Health, marking the lowest daily count of confirmations in nearly two months. Today’s cases were found among six men, ages 19-62 and two women, ages 37-71. Egg Harbor Township, Galloway and Pleasantville each had two new positives while Hamilton Township and Hammonton each had one. To date, Atlantic County has confirmed 2,273 residents who have tested positive for Covid-19 and 159 deaths with 894 residents cleared as recovered. A reminder, Atlantic County will continue its COVID-19 testing on Tuesday and Thursday from 9 AM – 12 Noon, for symptomatic county residents with a doctor’s prescription, proof of residency and appointment confirmation. The testing location has been moved to Northfield, behind the county’s Public Works facility, at Route 9 (New Road) and Dolphin Avenue. Appointments can be made on the county web site at www.aclink.org.

Curfews that were imposed in New Jersey’s capital city and Atlantic City after largely peaceful protests over the death of George Floyd later devolved into violence were lifted this morning according to authorities. No injuries were reported in the disturbances Sunday night, but authorities said there were instances of window-smashing and stealing from stores. It wasn’t clear how many arrests were made overall. As the demonstrations in Atlantic City grew violent, several streets were blocked by police and crowds, causing disruptions to mass transit. A local emergency declarations has been declared now through June 8th with a citywide curfew of 7pm according to Mayor Marty Small.

Temporary lane closures along portions of Avalon Boulevard (C.R. 601) will continue as construction crews perform temporary and permanent patching of deck spalls located along the Ingram’s and Leonard’s Thorofare bridges.

The lane closures will occur June 1st through June 4th. The anticipated hours of closure will be from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on those days. Both lanes of the roadway will be reopened at the end of the day.

During the closure, traffic will alternate around the construction zone using flaggers or a temporary traffic signal. The road will not be closed, however, motorists should expect delays.

Motorists are urged to drive with caution through the construction zone for their safety and the safety of the workers.

Atlantic County public health officials have confirmed the death of a 93-year-old Egg Harbor Township woman due to complications from Covid-19. She was a resident of a long-term care facility and had pre-existing health conditions.

The county also reported 33 new positives on Saturday, May 30 among nine males, ages 6-74 and 24 females, ages 15-93 and 27 positives on Sunday, May 31 among eight males, ages 35-63 and 19 females, ages 26-96.

The weekend cases included 12 in Atlantic City; nine each in Galloway, Hammonton and Northfield; eight in Pleasantville; three each in Absecon and Egg Harbor Township; two in Somers Point; and one each in Buena Borough, Egg Harbor City, Folsom, Hamilton Township and Margate.

Through May 31, Atlantic County has confirmed 2,265 residents who have tested positive for Covid-19 and 159 deaths with 894 residents cleared as recovered

Atlantic County will continue its COVID-19 testing on Tuesday, June 2 and Thursday, June 4, 9 AM – 12 Noon, for symptomatic county residents with a doctor’s prescription, proof of residency and appointment confirmation. The testing location has be

Atlantic County officials reorted today there are 24 new cases COVID-19 and two fatalities. Atlantic County has reported over 2200 cases with 158 deaths and nearly 900 cleared as recovered. Cape May County has reported 616 cases with 27 deaths and 277 deemed off quarantine. Cumberland County has reported 1,969 cases and 66 deaths.