Recent Articles from Daniel J. Munoz
NJ health officials prep for fall ‘twindemic’ of flu season, COVID-19
“As we enter the fall season, we are also moving into the flu season. This year we are preparing for the possibility of a twin-demic," said New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. "A severe flu season and a resurgence of COVID-19, which can strain health care resources.”
Online sportsbooks hit record in NJ amid pandemic and tanking casino industry
Last month's numbers were more than double those from August 2019: Bringing in $87.7 million in 2020 compared with $41.1 million the year before.
NJ employers responsible for essential workers with COVID, under new law
The measure, signed by Murphy on Sept. 14, has been panned by business groups that instead support a bill that would grant legal immunity to companies against claims from workers and customers that they caught the virus while on the premises.
NJ getting $75M of federal COVID-relief grants
The funding can be used by towns, cities and county governments to bolster their response to the pandemic or, to a limited extent, to make up for money lost due to cratering tax revenue and soaring expenses due to the virus.
Murphy critical of NYSE’s potential NJ exit over prospective tax
Most of the major stock exchanges operate their electronic trading out of New Jersey. And a number of them are voicing opposition to a proposal to impose a levy on high-frequency trades that is gaining ground in the state.
Teens, young adults seeing new surge of COVID-19, state health officials warn
New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said the “most recent increase began in August,” citing “anecdotal reports at social gatherings” such as “end-of-summer parties and back-to-school parties.”
OSHA fines Hackensack Meridian over mask safety violations (updated)
The incidents in question transpired in March at The Harborage, a 245-bed long-term care facility adjacent to the Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen where at least 25 residents died from COVID-19.
A cure for COVID vaccine anxiety?
Dozens, if not hundreds of potential treatments are being developed to combat the virus. According to BioNJ President and CEO Debbie Hart, in New Jersey alone, "the medicine chest of the world," that adds up to roughly 60 separate drugs being explored, but nationally there are concerns the work overall is being guided by politics, and not necessarily science.
Jobless claims up as COVID pandemic hits 6 months; 1.6M in NJ out of work
As of Sept. 5, the state paid out $4.6 billion of jobless benefits from its own pockets, $8.5 billion from the federal CARES Act expansion, $1.3 billion from an expansion for freelancers and independent contractors, $416.2 million from a federal extension of jobless benefits and $52.6 million for a state-level extension.
Murphy: ‘lives could have been saved’ if Trump didn’t conceal COVID-19 severity
Gov. Phil Murphy went after the president Wednesday following revelations that he withheld information about the virus.
Murphy touts baby bond proposal, swipes at legislative critics
“Let’s not listen to those who say ‘tomorrow, but not today’,” the governor said in Paterson. “Let’s be bold, now, when the investment is modest and the potential for our state, and every New Jerseyan we will welcome to our diverse family, is so much greater.”
State treasurer wary of $1B budget difference between admin, legislative analysts
State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio warned that accepting more optimistic revenue estimates laid out this week by the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services could be a risky decision amid the COVID-19 pandemic, without understanding the math behind those numbers.