Category: Covid-19

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Bright Side Covid-19 Education

Atlantic City Electric Helps Meet Funding Needs for Students Impacted by COVID-19 With Innovative Community Scholars Program

MAYS LANDING, N.J. (June 25, 2020) – As part of its ongoing support for customers and communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Atlantic City Electric has announced it will donate $50,000 through its Community Scholars Program, to support local South Jersey students seeking careers in energy or related fields.

Atlantic City Electric’s Community Scholars Program will provide financial assistance to students who are pursuing higher-education and vocational training—helping achieve their personal educational goals and sustaining a workforce that is prepared for future careers in energy. The program will provide grants for the 2020-2021 academic year to the following educational institutions:

  • Rowan College of South Jersey (Gloucester and Cumberland Counties)
  • Atlantic Cape Community College

“The COVID-19 pandemic has strained our economy and limited financial support for students in South Jersey and across the country,”said Gary Stockbridge, Atlantic City Electric region president. “As we continue to recover as a region, we are making strategic investments, including helping students pursuing STEM fields to continue on a path to achieve their personal goals. This will not only help students but also will have long-term benefits for the overall economy, ensuring we have a diverse and skilled pipeline of local talent who can continue to support our customers’ evolving energy needs. We will continue to do our part to support our customers, community partners and South Jersey’s recovery efforts.”

The Community Scholars Program grants will be provided to local educational institutions, supporting students as gap funding. Partnering educational institutions will make award decisions based on a student’s financial need and pursuit of degrees in energy related fields. 

“Rowan College of South Jersey is appreciative of this generous donation being made to our Cumberland and Gloucester students by Atlantic City Electric,” stated College President Frederick Keating. “On behalf of the Foundations, I want to thank Atlantic City Electric for the Community Scholars Program Scholarship. This gift is evidence to the commitment and desire to aid students in the pursuit of a higher education and will make a difference in the lives of our students, particularly during this time of economic uncertainty.”

“We are thrilled about our ongoing partnership with Atlantic City Electric in creating education pathways for Atlantic Cape students,” said Dr. Barbara Gaba, Atlantic Cape Community College president. We are most grateful for the $25,000 grant that provides scholarships for students in need.”

A robust and skilled energy workforce is essential to keeping the lights on. Atlantic City Electric’s support is part of the company’s effort to provide the highest level of service for its customers and communities. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Atlantic City Electric has supported COVID-19 relief efforts across South Jersey, including $75,000 in contributions committed to local organizations in March and April to support food insecurity and other financial challenges facing residents. In addition, Atlantic City Electric crews have worked around-the-clock, in accordance with local ordinances, to maintain the critical infrastructure that powers hospitals and health care facilities, federal, state and local response centers, and businesses, as well as the many homes that make up the region.

Atlantic City Electric has a strong track record supporting workforce development and providing customers with energy assistance in the region. In 2018, the company announced a six-year, $6.5-million workforce development initiative to expand training programs for energy-related jobs and to educate the workforce needed to fill future energy jobs across New Jersey. 

The program is being implemented through a partnership with Atlantic County Institute of Technology, Cape May Vocational School, Cumberland County TEC, and each of the four workforce development boards across the Atlantic City Electric’s service area. Additionally, since 2017, Atlantic City Electric has provided $1 million annually in funding through the Helping Hands program, which supports energy assistance programs administered through local, partnering organizations.

Readers are encouraged to visit The Source, Atlantic City Electric’s online news room. For more information about Atlantic City Electric, visit atlanticcityelectric.com. Follow the company on Facebook at facebook.com/atlanticcityelectric and on Twitter at twitter.com/acelecconnect. Our mobile app is available at atlanticcityelectric.com/mobileapp.

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Covid-19 News

Camden County College Testing Site to End Operations on June 26

(Gloucester Township, NJ) – The COVID-19 testing site located at Camden County College in Gloucester Township will cease operations at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 26. The Blackwood site has been operated jointly by the Camden County Freeholder Board, Department of Health, and Jefferson Health New Jersey since April 15, and prioritized first responders, healthcare workers and other frontline, essential personnel throughout the pandemic. 

The closure comes after hours of operation were adjusted in late May in an effort to expand the availability of services to residents in need of testing. In the month since, appointments at the site have continued to drop as the spread of COVID-19 in Camden County and throughout New Jersey appeared to slow considerably. The average number of new cases per day in the county dropped by roughly 60 percent over this span. Area residents are reminded that it is safe to go to their primary care provider if they are not feeling well.

“We have observed a concurrent reduction in testing appointments at the site, as cases throughout Camden County and the region have continued to fall. At this time, we feel confident that the site at Camden County College has served its purpose and can cease operations without impacting the availability of resources in the community,” said Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. “Testing capacity among healthcare providers and businesses like Rite Aid and CVS has increased significantly since the beginning of this pandemic. With our cases showing serious decline, there is no longer a significant need for a site at this location. Rest assured, the Freeholder Board will be standing by and will be prepared to respond if these factors change.”

The Board will continue to operate its remaining testing site in Camden City, located at 3101 Federal Street. More information on testing and appointment is available at camdencounty.com.

Jefferson Health New Jersey continues to operate two drive-through testing sites in Cherry Hill and Washington Township. For more information, visit: https://newjersey.jeffersonhealth.org. 

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Covid-19 Recent News

Rite-Aid Offering COVID-19 Self-Swab Testing Site in Clementon

Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) is further expanding its COVID-19 testing capabilities with five additional drive-through locations that opened Monday, June 22, 2020, through its partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Like Rite Aid’s existing testing sites, the new locations will utilize self-swab nasal tests overseen by Rite Aid pharmacists, and will operate Monday through Friday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Rite Aid’s COVID-19 nasal tests are available for all adults, regardless if they are experiencing virus symptoms, in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. At all testing locations, patients are required to provide government issued identification, be at least 18 years old and need to pre-register online at www.riteaid.com in order to schedule a time slot for testing.

Now operating 97 total testing sites, Rite Aid will have the capacity to conduct more than 48,000 tests weekly across all locations through online appointments.

The five new testing sites are located at the following Rite Aid stores:

  • 76 Smith Street in Perth Amboy, N.J.
  • 3553 Washington Road in Parlin, N.J.
  • 101 White Horse Pike in Clementon, N.J.
  • 2709 Broadway Avenue in Lorain, Ohio.
  • 753 South Grove Street in Ypsilanti, Mich.

A complete list of Rite Aid’s COVID-19 testing sites can be found at www.riteaid.com.

Rite Aid has partnered with Verily and will use its Baseline COVID-19 Program to provide screening, scheduling and return of results to participants for Rite Aid testing sites. Rite Aid has selected BioReference Laboratories to provide COVID-19 laboratory testing.

Clinical oversight for the COVID-19 testing program is provided by PWNHealth, a national clinician network that enables safe and easy access to diagnostic testing.

Rite Aid will continue to provide regular updates on the company’s progress with COVID-19 testing.

About Rite Aid Corporation
Rite Aid Corporation is on the front lines of delivering healthcare services and retail products to more than 1.6 million Americans daily. Our pharmacists are uniquely positioned to engage with customers and improve their health outcomes.

We provide an array of whole being health products and services for the entire family through over 2,400 retail pharmacy locations across 18 states. Through EnvisionRxOptions, we provide pharmacy benefits and services to approximately 4 million members nationwide. For more information, www.riteaid.com.

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Covid-19 In The Courts Recent News

AG Grewal Releases Guidance Addressing Municipal Court Prosecutions of COVID-19 Related Offenses

TRENTON – On June 17, 2020, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal today released guidance addressing prosecutions of COVID-19 related offenses, which is designed to ensure that there is accuracy, uniformity and consistency by municipal prosecutors and in municipal courts throughout the state.

“While the vast majority of New Jersey residents followed the Governor’s Executive Orders and helped us to slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives, and continue to do so, some did not,” said Attorney General Grewal. “We have a duty as law enforcement officers to bring violators to justice, and to do so in a way that ensures uniformity. We also have a responsibility to exercise discretion in the interests of justice, including to use diversion programs and community court if available. My guidance today advises municipal prosecutors on the best ways to achieve those important goals of uniformity and consistency, deterrence, and responsible discretion.”

The guidance emphasizes that no municipal prosecutor may adopt a categorical policy or practice of refusing to enforce COVID-19 related charges, but provides a significant number of options for the exercise of prosecutorial discretion in individual cases to achieve the interests of justice. The guidance notes that a categorical policy of refusing to enforce such charges would be inappropriate because each charge had already been reviewed and approved by a designated county prosecutor or assistant prosecutor—as the Attorney General previously required—and also that such a policy would lead to disparate administration of these laws.

The guidance does provide municipal prosecutors with significant options for using discretion in appropriate cases involving violations of the Governor’s Executive Orders.

The guidance makes clear that prosecutors may accept a plea to a lesser or other offense, move to amend an original charge, and request dismissal of a charge. While one reason to do so would be where the prosecutor believes there is insufficient evidence, the guidance adds that other factors include the individual’s age and criminal history, and the nature and circumstances of the offense, including whether the individual had been previously warned, whether their offense jeopardized the health, welfare, or safety of another person, including a minor, and whether their misconduct required a significant law enforcement or first responder response.

In general, “a municipal prosecutor may also consider the impact of adverse collateral consequences of a conviction based on the specific circumstances or factors presented by the defendant or elicited by the court.”

The guidance also emphasizes the role of condition dismissals, diversion programs and community court, whenever appropriate in the interest of justice. Factors again would include the nature and circumstances, the actions of the defendant, and the needs and interest of any victim.

The guidance addresses the impact of Executive Order 152. Last week, Governor Murphy announced that, going forward, all outdoor political activity—and all outdoor worship services—would be permitted to gather in any number, in recognition of the lower risks of COVID-19 transmission outdoors and the centrality of these activities to society.

The guidance makes clear that in order to “ensure that all outdoor political activities and outdoor worship services receive uniform treatment,” the Attorney General is directing prosecutors to dismiss the limited number of Executive Order violations that were previously filed against organizers of outdoor political protests or outdoor religious services.

Based on the information the Division of Criminal Justice has to date, five individuals have been charged with such violations, and no individual protestors or worshipers have been cited.

Click the image below to read Attorney General Grewal’s Directive:

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Covid-19 Feature Stories Recent News

AG Grewal & Division of Consumer Affairs Announce Health & Safety Standards for Reopening Hair Salons, Barbershops, Other Personal Care Services

NEWARK – Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced on June 16, 2020 that the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (“the Division”) has established health and safety standards at reopening hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, massage establishments, and other locations offering personal care services. The standards are meant to protect customers, as well as licensed professionals and staff, by reducing the continued risks posed by COVID-19.

The Division’s action comes after Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 154 allowing hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, massage establishments and electrology offices, as well as spas, tattoo parlors and tanning salons, to reopen to the public on June 22, 2020. These facilities have been closed to the public since March under Executive Order No. 107, which also closed other businesses, restricted travel, and required social distancing.

The Division’s Order requires cosmetology, massage, and bodywork businesses overseen by its licensing boards to take certain steps to prepare for reopening to minimize person-to-person contact and to follow protocols for scheduling appointments, screening clients and staff prior to entry to the facility, use of personal protective equipment by clients and staff, adopting enhanced cleaning and disinfection practices, and staying informed about new developments and guidance related to COVID-19.

The Division developed its policies in consultation with the Department of Health, the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling, the New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy, and based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.

“As New Jersey continues to take steps to strategically reopen businesses, we can’t let our guard down,” said Attorney General Grewal. “As personal care services resume, it’s important that businesses and professionals offering these services — as well as their clients — take precautions to diminish the risk of infection.”

To protect licensed professionals, staff and clients, health and safety protocols for the reopening of cosmetology and massage and bodywork businesses offering personal care services include:

  • Screening customers and staff no more than 24 hours before a scheduled appointment and immediately prior to or upon arrival at the business. Any individual who reports having any symptom consistent with COVID-19 in the last 72 hours, or having had exposure to an individual suspected of having had or confirmed to have had COVID-19 in the last 14 days, cannot be permitted to enter, whether for work or a schedule service.
  • Requiring appointments for all services, with no walk-ins being permitted.
  • Limiting the number of people allowed in an establishment at any given time. Only staff and clients receiving services by appointment should be inside the establishment.
  • Spacing appointments to allow time for cleaning and disinfecting between customers.
  • Checking temperatures for clients and staff prior to entry, regardless of symptoms. Individuals with a temperature over 100.4 shall not be permitted to enter the shop to work or for an appointment.
  • Taking steps to reconfigure the space within the business to ensure at least six feet of distance between individuals wherever possible and implementing adaptations to the space with physical barriers, signs, tape or floor markers to facilitate social distancing.
  • Requiring everyone entering the premises to wear masks or a face covering at all times, with limited exceptions.
  • Requiring the removal of reusable items such as magazines, toys, and samples.
  • Complying with additional requirements for certain services.

“Proper disinfection and cleaning practices are already part of the training our licensees receive, and the regulations the Division enforces” said Acting Director Paul R. Rodríguez. “By expanding these safety protocols to include additional infection control measures, we seek to protect the safety of consumers, providers, and staff as the State continues its path on the road to recovery.”

Shop owners and licensed providers of personal health services must also employ enhanced cleaning, disinfection, and other health and safety practices, and assist with contact-tracing efforts.

The Division’s Administrative Order includes cosmetology shops, barber shops, beauty salons, hair braiding shops, nail salons, and massage establishments.

Electrology services, which are overseen by the Electrologists Advisory Committee of the State Board of Medical Examiners, must follow the safety procedures applicable to all healthcare providers established by the Division’s May 18 Administrative Order 2020-07, as well as applicable statutes and regulations.