PARSIPPANY – With medical staffs across New Jersey, and the world working tirelessly to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, people are trying to find ways to show their appreciation for their sacrifice, while staying safe, respecting social distancing and stay-at-home orders. Parsippany resident Robin Mager has a solution – a nightly Clap Out across the community beginning Sunday, May 3 at 7:00 p.m.

“That’s the time in the day when [medical professionals] change shifts,” Mager says. Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Michael Soriano agrees and wants the whole Township to join in to show their appreciation.

Mager, a Junior at Parsippany-Troy Hills High School has a particular interest in getting the Clap Out as big and loud as possible. Mager’s mother is a nurse in the ICU at Overlook Medical Center. Since the pandemic began, Mager’s mother has been in the hospital during the day, and staying in a hotel room at night, away from family to keep any possible contagion of the virus away from them.

“I haven’t’ seen her since this all started,” Mager says. “We’re calling her, and she’s doing as best as she can during this situation. It’s a struggle, but we’re talking to her as much as possible.” For those unfamiliar, a Clap Out is a scheduled activity in which participants go outside and clap, cheer, shout, bang pots and pans, and make noise as an act of unified, amplified appreciation for healthcare heroes. Mayor Michael Soriano agrees the Clap Out is a great way to show appreciation, while staying safe and socially distant.

“We want to start these Clap Outs this Sunday evening, and keep them going until we’re through this pandemic,” said Mayor Soriano. “We owe all of our first-responders, frontline caregivers, and medical professionals a huge debt of gratitude.

We should make some noise for those who are putting their lives on the line day in and day out to keep us safe.” Starting Sunday May 3, beginning at 7:00 p.m. each day, residents are encouraged to open their windows, stand on their front porches or balconies, and cheer, clap, and make noise safely for 5-10 minutes. “I want to thank Robin for bringing this idea to the Township,” Mayor Soriano said. “It’s a great way to honor our first responders, and for us in the community to be able to do something together, while staying apart, and to remind everyone that we’re not alone in this.”

PARSIPPANY — With Governor Murphy opening golf courses starting Saturday morning, Knoll County Club is excited to let everyone know they will be taking tee times effective immediately.

You may call the Pro Shop to make your tee time, (973(263-7110. There are many rules and regulations we need to follow in order to keep everyone safe.

They are as follows:
• For the time being, we will only be taking tee times over the phone. Our online tee sheet will be launched in the future and we will let you know once it is.
• Payment will be accepted by credit card only, we request that you make a payment over the phone when making your tee time. We can also load a credit card to your account to use for future payments. This will alleviate some of the delays that may occur when you arrive at the course.
• There will only be one person allowed in the Pro Shop at a time, coming in the front door and exiting by the side door. One way only. Six feet social distancing will be practiced so please adhere to the signs and tape provided on the patio while waiting to enter the Pro Shop.
• Masks must be worn at all times before tee off and around others. We do not have masks or gloves to provide to you. If paying inside Pro Shop, we request you wear gloves when signing for payment.
• All golfers must handle their own bags at all times.
• Please stay in your car in the parking lot until five minutes before your tee time.
• No gathering or conversing at any time on Knoll Country Club property. Reminder of social distancing.
• Locker Rooms will be closed.
• Practice putting greens will be closed.
• Tee House will be open for takeaway only. The bathrooms will be locked and the seating on the patio will not be available.
• Driving Range will be open. Mats have been removed for every other bay. Balls will be washed after collection.
• Please do not remove the flagsticks from the holes. Flagsticks have been modified to keep the ball from going into the hole. Also rakes and ball washers have been removed until further notice.
• Gas carts will be available but only one person per cart. Pull carts may be rented but with a limited amount, there is a possibility we may run out. Then you must carry your own bag. If you own a pull cart, you are welcome to bring that as well.
• There will be no club rentals.
• If you store your bag at the Knoll, once it is taken out, it may not go back in until the Coronavirus is no longer a threat.
• There may be delays in turning over gas carts and pull carts as they come in since our staff will have to fully sanitize each one in order for someone else to operate them.

They appreciate everyone’s patience with the new guidelines. They want to make sure the Knoll follows the rules to ensure everyone’s safety so that they can continue to stay open and let everyone enjoy the great game of golf during these difficult times.

MORRIS COUNTY —  To reduce the spread of COVID-19 and help move Morris County towards recovery, the Morris County Board of Freeholders, in coordination with local and county health officials, is taking steps to initiate an aggressive countywide contact tracing program.

While public health is handled at the municipal level in New Jersey and across Morris County, the Freeholder Board wants to be ready to offer countywide support to all 39 municipalities in what would be an enormous task.

Morris County will seek guidance from the state (which is partnering with New York and Connecticut) on compatible and interoperable contact tracing software. At the same time, the county will move ahead with hiring personnel needed to manage the contract tracing effort.

“We want Morris County to be in the best position to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to be ready to move towards recovery,” said Freeholder Director Deborah Smith.

“Our goal is to stay ahead of the curve, to be over-prepared, and to secure the personnel we will need for this contact tracing effort while qualified public health individuals still are available,’’ added Freeholder John Krickus.

Towards those goals, the Freeholder Board has approved and is expediting the hiring of a part-time public health nurse and three-to-five disease control field representatives to bolster the existing Morris County Office of Health Management staff.

Also, the county is fortunate to have volunteers with medical backgrounds from the Morris County Medical Reserve Corp who already have begun to offer their services for the contact tracing program.

Additionally, there are 12 health departments serving 32 municipalities in Morris County, which allows for even greater public health resources countywide. Morris County provides public health services for the other seven municipalities.

Contact tracing involves a bit of investigative health work. Trained staff will interview people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and to try to determine who may have recently been in contact with them.

They then contact those people who have been exposed and can advise them to quarantine to help prevent spreading the disease.

Typically, exposure means having been within 6 feet of an infected person for more than 10 minutes, though the contact time may be lower for people in more contagious settings, such as a hospital or medical facility.

PARSIPPANY — In response to Governor Phil Murphy’s decision Wednesday to re-open state and county parks and forests, Assemblyman Jay Webber issued this statement:

“Although state and county parks and forests never should have been closed, it is good that the governor has corrected course to re-open them. The open space of our parks and forests is essential to the physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being of all our residents. Thanks go out to the more than 51,000 citizens who advocated for the re-opening of our parks through signing or liking our online petition, and all of the other officials, Republican and Democrat, who rallied to the cause of open space and health of our residents.”

On the very day, April 7, that Murphy imposed executive order 118 closing all state parks and forests and all parks of all 21 counties, Webber became the first official in the state to call on the governor to rescind that order. Webber issued an open letter to Murphy and began an online petition asking the governor to re-open the parks. The petition has gathered over 38,000 Likes and 13,000 signatures to date.

PARSIPPANY — Vitalant – working in conjunction with its hospital partners – has launched a program to treat COVID-19 patients with blood plasma donated by individuals who have recovered from the disease. This blood component, known as “convalescent plasma,” contains antibodies that may provide seriously ill patients an extra boost in fighting the disease.

There currently are neither vaccines nor proven treatments for COVID-19, because the virus is so new. Although trials for a vaccine are underway, it is expected to be months before one is approved. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified and approved convalescent plasma treatment as an “emergency investigational new drug.” It is currently the only antibody treatment available to COVID-19 patients and, as such, is a promising new tool.

Vitalant is collecting convalescent plasma – by appointment only – at its locations in Montvale, Paramus, and Parsippany, NJ. Those interested in donating plasma are encouraged to apply through the Vitalant website Vitalant.org/covidfree.Additional details are available by calling 866-CV-PLSMA (866-287-5762).

“This is an example of the medical and research communities coming together to effect real change during this pandemic,” said Maria De Los Angeles Muñiz, MD, Medical Director at Vitalant’s Montvale, NJ location. “Convalescent plasma is a promising response tool for fighting COVID-19 in patients, and potentially for those working on the front lines.”
Eligibility criteria for convalescent plasma donors are:

• Prior diagnosis of COVID-19, documented by a laboratory test
• Complete resolution of symptoms for at least 14 days
• Meet all other current FDA donor eligibility requirements to donate plasma

Even for those who meet these requirements, additional tests may be required. In some instances, those who have recovered from COVID-19 may be able to donate, even if they did not have an initial laboratory test.

About Vitalant in New Jersey
A not-for-profit organization that supplies blood and blood products to hospitals in the NJ/NY region, Bergen County-based Vitalant (previously Community Blood Services) has been devoted to serving the community’s transfusion medicine needs since 1953. Donations of blood and blood products, umbilical cord blood, stem cells, and bone marrow help to join individuals, organizations, businesses, and entire communities together in partnership to help save lives.