2 UK COVID Variant Cases Confirmed In NJ

GOV. MURPHY PRESS CONFERENCE, JAN. 22

  • 2 COVID Variant B117 cases, commonly known as the UK variant, have been confirmed in New Jersey. One was in a man in his 60’s living in Ocean County with no travel or clear exposure to anyone sick. Symptoms began on Dec. 29 and were lab confirmed on Jan. 6. He was not hospitalized, and symptoms have subsided. The second was a “young traveler” staying in North Jersey who was tested in New York City. Murphy said he was not surprised that the mutated virus was in New Jersey and they have been operating as if it already was.
  • There are 5 new cases of multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children who have tested positive for COVID or have the antibodies to show they were exposed to the virus. None of them are hospitalized.
  • Murphy said that although CVS and Walgreens, through a federal program, have scheduled 90% of the long term care and congregate living facilities in the state for vaccinations, only 10% of their allotted vaccines “have gotten into arms”. Murphy said he blamed this on lack of manpower, stating they need to put more urgency and more manpower into their efforts. The state has no control over this program.
  • Murphy said that 50 to 70% of the state controlled vaccines are “getting into arms”. He said that supplies of vaccines go first to sites with the largest capacity for giving doses. Murphy said that 1.9 million people in New Jersey have pre-registered for vaccinations. Of this, 1.4 million are eligible now for vaccinations. “We have built a vaccination infrastructure that can handle this. We need the vaccines.”
  • Beginning Monday at 8 a.m., people can call 855-568-0545 to schedule vaccinations and to get information.
  • Murphy said that he expects by next week the state will have given more vaccinations than the total number of residents who have tested positive for COVID in the state.
  • A reporter stated that people are experiencing problems with not getting their second shot appointment at the Gloucester County Mega Vaccination site. The appointment for the second shot is supposed to be made before you leave after getting your first shot. Murphy said he would look into the situation.
  • On getting a FEMA vaccination site, Murphy said if those locations come with doses, “count us in”, but stated we already have the infrastructure. We just need the doses.
  • Statewide positivity for tests drawn on Jan. 18 was 10.1%. In North Jersey 9.72%, Central Jersey 10.33%, South Jersey 10.75%. In hospitals in the last 24 hours, 456 COVID patients were discharged, 401 admitted, and an unconfirmed 59 COVID deaths were reported.
  • LOCAL LONG TERM CARE FACILITY CHAGES: Atrium +4 resident cases (12), +5 staff cases (20); United Methodist +2 staff cases (26); Terraces: +1 resident case (5); Advanced Subacute: +1 resident case (19), +2 staff cases (18); Traditions: +1 staff case (13); Manorcare +2 resident cases (29), +3 staff cases (31); Cedar Grove: +6 resident cases (96), +2 staff cases (74), +5 resident deaths (24); Carneys Point Care: +1 staff case (11); Eagleview: +18 resident cases (50), +6 staff cases (29).

— by Karen E. Viereck, Editor/Publisher

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