NJAASC has curated authoritative information and a list of resources for our Membership’s reference. We will continue to update this as more information becomes available.
PAST COVID E-BLAST HAVE BEEN ARCHIVED DUE TO SPACE RESTRAINTS AND TO KEEP THINGS CURRENT.
QUARANTINE MEANS QUARANTINE!
With things ramping up again, it is important that we as ASCs strictly follow the EO and ED that we have in place.
We do not want to do anything that would give anyone an opportunity to point a finger at us.
So…..
Patients must quarantine after they get their test and until their procedure. This is as important a factor as getting the test.
Quarantine means you stay at home.
It does not mean you go to the store for food, or go to the drugstore- those are things you should have done BEFORE you got your test.
The Department is very clear on this issue, it means stay at home.
NEW RESTRICTIONS FROM THE GOVERNOR
Monday, November 9, 2020 at 1:00 PM - Governor’s Press Conference
Governor:
We stand ready to work with President-Elect Joe Biden on matters directly related to COVID19 – whether that be in broad-based mitigation efforts or further federal coronavirus relief. Including getting federal funding for the Gateway Project and restoring the full State and Local Tax deduction for our taxpayers.
We are taking surgical steps to mitigate increasing spread of the virus. We need to shake off the pandemic fatigue.
Effective Thursday, November 12th:
-No indoor dining between 10:00 PM – 5:00 AM at restaurants, bars, clubs, and lounges
-Outdoor dining, takeout, and delivery services may continue past 10:00 PM
-Casinos must stop serving food/drinks at 10:00 PM
-All bar side seating will be prohibited
-Restaurants may place tables closer than 6 feet ONLY if separated by barriers
-Individual fully enclosed dining bubbles may be set-up for outdoor dining
Starting this Thursday, ALL interstate games, and tournaments for indoor youth sports – up to and including high school – are prohibited. It is simply not safe for teams to be crossing state lines at this time to participate in indoor competitions.
Over the weekend, I spoke with Dr. Anthony Fauci. The good news is that a vaccine is on the horizon – we anticipate broad distribution by this spring. We have a plan ready should that timeframe hold.
NJ State Police and NJDOE are distributing more than 2.4 million masks to school students, educators, and staff. Mask allocation is being prioritized for those in low-income or high-needs populations within the school community.
The EDA has opened Phase II of its program allowing businesses and nonprofits to receive direct discounts on PPE. Visit www.covid19.nj.gov/ppeaccess.
EXECUTIVE ORDER ALLOWS LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO REGULATE NON ESSENTIAL BUSINESS
Attached is Executive Order 195. The order allows local government subdivisions to create certain policies as it relates to non essential businesses during the Covid 19 crisis.
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND QUARANTINE FOR HCPS
Sent: Friday, November 6, 2020 5:53 PM
Subject: RE: travel advisory nj
If I am understanding the question correctly, this is regarding HCPs (not patients) who have returned to NJ after travelling to a state on our quarantine list?
If this is correct, this scenario is addressed on pp.4-5 of attached FAQ (Critical Infrastructure Employees). Basically – if the HCP is not able to quarantine the recommended 14 days, then they can follow the recommendations at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-risk-assesment-hcp.html which would include, at least, things such as wearing face mask ag all times and monitoring for signs/symptoms.
Of course, testing of the HCP is also a good idea.
We would encourage HCPs not to travel or to generally put themselves at increased risk.
Edward Lifshitz, MD, FACP
Medical Director
Infectious and Zoonotic Disease Program
Communicable Disease Service
To prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 outside of work, HCP should follow CDC’s Guidance on Public Health Recommendations for Community-Related Exposure and the general guidance at Your Health. Because of their potential for exposure to SARS-CoV-2 at work, some HCP may choose to implement extra measures when arriving home from providing healthcare, such as removing any clothing they wore while delivering healthcare, taking off their shoes, washing their clothing, and immediately showering. However, these practices are optional and based on a personal decision; there is insufficient evidence to determine whether these additional practices can lower infection risk.
Because person-to-person transmission through respiratory droplets within a radius of 6 feet is currently thought to be the main way the virus spreads, everyone — including HCP —can reduce the risk to themselves and others by wearing a mask, practicing physical distancing, washing their hands often, and taking other prevention measures.
CDC updates its guidance, including specific guidance in the links above, as additional information becomes available.
NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy has expanded the quarantine travel advisory list to its biggest in weeks, now demanding any travelers from 43 states and territories to quarantine for two weeks after returning – even if their travel route started in New Jersey.
Nonessential travel from Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware also is highly discouraged, although none of the states are on the travel advisory list. New York and Connecticut are also discouraging nonessential travel to and from the Garden State, but they are not mandating that travelers quarantine.
Delaware, Connecticut and Pennsylvania meet the criteria for New Jersey's travel advisory, but they were left off the list due to the interconnected nature of the region, Murphy said. A 14-day quarantine for travelers from these states is "not reasonable in all instances," Murphy said.
Murphy added two states this week - California and Massachusetts - raising the total of states and territories included in the advisory to 43, marking the largest number of states on New Jersey's quarantine list to date.
Anybody traveling south will still have to find a circuitous route since Maryland remains on the quarantine list. In fact, traveling to many parts of the southern U.S. will be difficult without having to isolate upon return (see full list of states on the quarantine list below).
The travel advisory is issued for states with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a state with a 10 percent or higher positive rate over a 7-day rolling average.
Anyone returning from the designated states should self-quarantine at their home, hotel or other temporary lodging, Murphy said, and only leave for medical care or essential items.
New Jersey has reported 245,257 total coronavirus cases and 14, 591 confirmed deaths since the pandemic began.
"As a second wave of COVID-19 has begun across the nation and our state, we must do everything possible to stop the further spread of COVID-19." said Murphy. "It remains our top priority to ensure the safety
Murphy is now saying New Jersey may have to suspend further re-openings if cases continue to rise. Murphy made the comments after the Garden State had its highest daily number of new cases in four months.
Murphy has issued guidance on family gatherings amid the coronavirus crisis. Here's what that means.
Here is the latest list:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Guam
- Iowa
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Montana
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
- West Virginia
- Washington
- Wyoming
Travelers and those residents who are returning from impacted states should self-quarantine at their home, hotel, or other temporary lodging. Individuals should leave the place of self-quarantine only to seek medical care/treatment or to obtain food and other essential items.
It is expected that individuals will follow the public health advisory to self-quarantine. The list of states will be updated on a rolling basis and is accessible here.
IS THIS TEST APPROVED
Q: Please clarify with the DOH if the Abbott ID Now Covid test is approved for pre-op testing given the FDA’s release of a revision of the EUA indicating it’s use is for symptomatic patients (within 7 days) only
A: Yes, per the updated ED this is acceptable.
Dr. Thomas Kirn, NJ Department of Health
