New Jersey opens up vaccine eligibility to more people

As vaccinations for COVID-19 in New Jersey are increasing rapidly, the state has made even made even more residents eligible.

As of April 5, the following individuals that live, work or are educated in New Jersey can now get the vaccine:

Food production, agriculture, and food distribution, including grocery store workers and restaurant staff;

Eldercare and eldercare support staff;

Warehousing and logistics;

Social service workers and support staff;

Elections personnel;

Hospitality, including casino workers and hotel/lodging staff;

Medical supply chain;

Postal and shipping service;

Clergy;

Judicial system;

All individuals aged 55+;

All Individuals 16 and over with intellectual and developmental disabilities — developmental disabilities are a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas.

Also eligible for the vaccine are essential workers in the following sectors:

Communications, IT, and media workers, including communications infrastructure support (engineers, technicians) and members of the press;

Laundry service workers, including workers in laundromats, laundry services, and dry cleaners;

Real estate, building, and home service workers, including construction workers, code officials, plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, property management, and maintenance workers;

Retail financial institution workers, including bank tellers, lending service, public accounting, and check cashing workers;

Sanitation workers, including workers providing disinfection and janitorial services for all essential facilities and modes of transportation; city sanitation workers; residential, commercial, and industrial solid and hazardous waste removal;

Utility workers, including electrical generation and supply system, natural gas delivery, nuclear power plant, water supply, telephone, cable/fiber optical/broadband/cellular service workers;

Higher Education workers, including educators and support staff;

Librarians, including support staff at municipal, county, and state libraries (i.e. those not included in K-12 announcement).

Senior citizens in Gloucester City who need help in getting a vaccine appointment can call Mayor’s Aide Ashley Hagan at 456-0205, ext. 205 for assistance.

The COVID-19 statistics, as of Monday, April 5, are as follows:

The United States has more than 30.7 million reported cases and more than 555,000 deaths since the pandemic began.

Globally, the world reports more than 131 million cases, with an increase of nearly 4 million last week. Sadly, more than 2.85 million human beings worldwide have perished.

In New Jersey, the state now reports 927,000 confirmed and probable cases. Also, there are 24,637 confirmed and probable deaths.

Camden County reports 49,676 confirmed and probable cases and 1,230 confirmed and probable deaths since March 11, 2020.

Gloucester City reports 908 cases, with 21 new cases this past week. Brooklawn reports three new cases, for a total of 153, while Bellmawr now has 954 cases – including 10 new cases last week.

Mount Ephraim has 257 COVID-19 cases, with three more more reported last week. Runnemede has 619 cases, with seven new cases last week. Westville reports 254 total cases.

The Camden County Health Department stated that help is available for people who are struggling during this pandemic:

For those residents who are having difficulty coping with the COVID-19 crisis, please call the Mental Health Association in New Jersey, Inc. at (877) 294- HELP (4357) for support, guidance and mental health referrals as needed.