UPDATE — January 10, 2022
*IMPORTANT UPDATE ON CASE REPORTING*
Please note that information highlighted in yellow reflects new and updated information.
Due to an unprecedented and ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases, effective December 17, 2021, the Clifton Health Department is utilizing Township of Little Falls COVID-19 data recorded in the Communicable Disease Reporting Surveillance System (CDRSS). CDRSS is the system used by the NJ Department of Health to track COVID-19 cases. While the Health Department was already using this system for case reporting, we would initially ensure that any cases that were found to be out of jurisdiction, and any cases found to be duplicates of existing cases were removed from the weekly case counts and overall case count. Our goal was always to provide the community with the most accurate representation of COVID-19 in the Township of Little Falls.
Unfortunately, due to this surge and because the NJ Department of Health has directed local health departments to focus their efforts on prioritizing and investigating COVID-19 cases involving individuals ages 18 and under as well individuals ages 65 and older, it is no longer feasible for the Health Department to account for transferred and duplicate cases in its case reporting. Going forward, we will provide updates to the age/gender breakdown based on the numbers on CDRSS and will continue to provide the bar graph spreadsheet, but are distinguishing the change in data reporting effective 12/17/2021.
Below are the case numbers for the previous week, as well as the overall case count generated by CDRSS reports. Remember that these numbers do NOT account for at-home tests, duplicates, and cases that are out of jurisdiction.
12/31/21 through 1/6/22: 152 new cases
The total number of COVID-19 cases for the Township of Little Falls is 2,202.
*NEW GUIDANCE PUT OUT BY THE CDC AND NJ DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REGARDING UPDATED ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE TIMES*
New guidance regarding isolation and quarantine timeframes have recently been issued by the CDC and NJ Department of Health. Please note that this information applies to the general public. Also note that these guidelines vary from school guidelines which can be found here: https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/nj-information/reopening-guidance-and-restrictions/are-schools-open-what-are-the-safety-requirements.
*Isolation information updated by the NJ Department of Health on 1/7/2022*:
If you tested positive for COVID-19 (REGARDLESS of vaccination status):
- You should stay home and isolate for 5 days.
- If you have no symptoms (asymptomatic) or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house but should continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days, avoid travel if possible, and avoid places where you can't wear a mask like a restaurant.
- If you can't wear a mask, you should isolate for a full 10 days
- If you have a fever, continue to stay home until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms improve
*Quarantine information updated by the NJ Department of Health on 1/7/2022*:
You may have been exposed to COVID-19 if you were in close contact (within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more over 24-hours) with someone who had COVID-19, or if you participated in a high risk activity such as attending large gatherings with people who may be unvaccinated.
If you are 18 or older and have received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines (received a booster dose, completed the two-dose series of Pfizer within the past 5 months or Moderna within the last 6 months, or have received your single shot of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months), OR if you are under 18 but fully vaccinated (completed the two-dose series of Pfizer), OR if you recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months:
- You do NOT need to quarantine. But you should wear a well-fitted mask around others for 10 days and get tested at least 5 days after the exposure (recently recovered persons do not need to test).
- If symptoms occur, or if you test positive, you should immediately isolate for at least 5 days after the date when symptoms began or the date of the positive test result.
If you are NOT up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines (unvaccinated, haven't completed a primary vaccine series, or are 18 or older and more than 5 months out from your second Pfizer dose or 6 months out from your second Moderna dose, or more than 2 months out from your J&J vaccine dose but haven't received a booster dose):
- You should stay home and quarantine for 5 days, monitor for symptoms, and get tested at least 5 days after exposure.
- After ending quarantine, for 5 additional days, you should wear a mask around others, delay travel, avoid persons at high-risk for severe illness, and avoid places where you can't wear a mask.
- If you are unable to wear a mask when around others, you should continue to quarantine for a full 10 days.
- If symptoms occur, you should immediately isolate until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.
- If you test positive for COVID-19, you should isolate for 5 days from the date of the positive test result.
*TESTING INFORMATION*
For a list of updated locations near you that are offering COVID-19 testing, please refer to this link for the most up-to-date information: https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/testing#test-sites. Simply put in your zip code, which will generate a number of testing locations near you. Each site should indicate if appointments are required and/or if walk-ups are accepted.
Additional testing information, including information on free public testing locations, can also be found here: https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/nj-information/testing-and-treatment/where-can-i-get-free-public-covid-19-testing-or-treatment
We understand your frustration and ask for your continued patience as there is a very high demand for COVID-19 testing at this time.
The NJ Department of Health and Vault Medical Services have partnered to offer a free, at-home COVID-19 saliva test kit that is available to every New Jersey resident who thinks they need a test, even if they do not have symptoms.
To order a free test kit, visit learn.vaulthealth.com/nj
The kit will be shipped through UPS with next-day delivery. Once received, you will connect over Zoom with a Vault healthcare professional who will walk you through the test and answer your questions. When complete, the test can be sent back in a prepaid package via UPS next-day shipping. You will receive your test results 24 to 48 hours after your sample arrives at the lab.
You will not be charged for the test, and you will not be asked for your credit card information.
As a reminder to residents, if you are being tested, remain home while awaiting your results, whether or not you're showing symptoms, to avoid potentially infecting other people.
*VACCINATION INFORMATION*
To schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 booster with the Clifton Health Department or for more information, please call the Health Department’s COVID-19 hotline at 973-470-2039. Currently, the Clifton Health Department ONLY administers the Moderna vaccine. The Clifton Health Department Does NOT administer the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
An updated list of locations offering COVID-19 vaccinations/boosters can be found here: https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/finder
Individuals are eligible to receive a booster if it has been at least two months since their one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot or at least six months after completing their two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series.
Eligible adults may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. The CDC recommends that mRNA vaccines (e.g. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) are preferred over the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine for prevention of COVID-19 in adults.
*ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RESOURCES*:
The most recent travel guidelines can be found here:
https://covid19.nj.gov/search.html?query=travel+guidelines&referrerPageUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fcovid19.nj.gov%2Ffaqs%2Fnj-information%2Ftesting-and-treatment%2Fwho-should-get-a-booster-shot-or-third-dose-of-the-covid-19-vaccine
For a list of most Governor Murphy’s current and past executive orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic, please refer to this link: https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/056murphy/
Residents can find helpful resources that provide support during the COVID-19 pandemic here: https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/nj-information/assistance-and-benefits/what-types-of-benefits-or-assistance-are-available-to-me-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak
For general questions pertaining to COVID-19, please call the New Jersey Department of Health COVID-19 Hotline at 211 or text NJCOVID to 898-211. Please also feel free to visit https://covid19.nj.gov/ for more information. For mental health-related concerns during COVID-19, call the Disaster Distress Hotline at 1-800-985-5990 or text “talk with us” at 66746. If you wish to get in touch with the Clifton Health Department for general COVID-19 questions, please email Health Educator Layal Helwani at Lhelwani@cliftonnj.org.
The Clifton Health Department is a contractual health agency serving the Township of Little Falls.
