As of this morning, the State of New Jersey has administered 1,298,028 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine - 961,449 first doses and 336,002 second doses. This past Wednesday, the Commissioner of the NJ Department of Health announced that this coming week, the state is expecting to see an increase in the delivery of first doses of the Pfizer vaccine, for a total of 67,860 doses. The state is also expecting to receive 87,400 first doses of the Moderna vaccine, which is the same number as last week. The state expects these amounts to remain steady for the next couple of weeks. In addition to first doses, both Pfizer and Moderna supply the state with second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine every week. 

As the state continues its vaccination roll-out and we continue to deal with the temperamental winter weather, the NJDOH would like to remind residents that a critical way to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 is to continue to get tested. If you have been potentially exposed to COVID-19, even if you don't have symptoms, you should get tested. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported that more than half of COVID-19 cases are transmitted from individuals experiencing no symptoms. Until you, your family, and friends, have all received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, knowing your COVID-19 status plays an essential role in protecting yourself and your loved ones. 

There are two types of tests available to diagnose COVID-19: Antigen and PCR Tests. If you have symptoms, getting a quick Antigen Test can provide you with a result within 15-30 minutes, so you can start isolating right away. However, Antigen tests are not as accurate compared to the PCR tests. If you are asymptomatic but have been exposed to COVID-19, the PCR test can find very small amounts of the virus that might be present. 

Right now, there are more than 400 sites in NJ to get tested. The testing center at the County College of Morris continues to operate 9:00am - 4:00pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. This site has been conducting around 400 PCR tests per day with a 24-hour turnaround for results. There are no costs for these tests, but appointments are required. The county plans to keep this site open for the foreseeable future.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and take care. 

Sarah Neibart

Mayor, Mendham Township