MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy has signed Executive Order No. 123, extending grace periods during which certain insurance companies, including health insurers, life insurers, and property and casualty insurers, will not be able to cancel policies for nonpayment of premiums during the COVID-19 crisis. (Click here to read Executive Order 123)

“We know the stringent measures we’ve put in place to combat COVID-19 have resulted in a loss of income and financial hardship for many,” said Governor Murphy. “However, no New Jerseyan deserves to lose their insurance during this emergency, and we cannot leave people in a weaker position once it ends.”

Governor Murphy’s Executive Order makes the following changes:

Extends minimum grace periods

• A minimum 60-day grace period is required for health and dental insurance policies.
• A minimum 90-day grace period will be required for life insurance, insurance premium-financing arrangements, and property and casualty insurance, which includes auto, homeowners, and renters insurance.
• Insurance companies must notify policyholders of this emergency grace period and to waive certain late fees, interest, or other charges associated with delays in premium payments as directed by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance.
• Insurers are required to provide each policyholder with an easily readable written description of the terms of the extended grace period.
• The extended grace periods does not apply to employer-funded health plans, which under federal law, are regulated exclusively by the federal government.

Requires insurance companies to pay claims during the grace period

• Insurance companies are required to pay any claim incurred during the emergency grace period that would be covered under the policy.
• The Order further prohibits insurance companies from seeking to recoup any claims paid during the emergency grace period based on non-payment of premiums.

Ensures that unpaid premiums are made payable over a lengthy period

To ensure that policyholders are not required to make a lump sum payment on unpaid premiums at the end of the grace period, any unpaid premium will be amortized over the remainder of the policy term or a period of up to 12 months, as appropriate and as directed by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance.

MORRIS COUNTY — As a result of anticipated weather for Monday, April 13, the Morris County drive-thru testing site located at the County College of Morris will be closed.

Anyone who had an appointment scheduled on Monday can reschedule for Tuesday, April 14. Morris County Office of Emergency Management staff is working to contact all of the persons Monday appointments to assist with rescheduling.

Appointments now can be scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, April 14 and 15. For information and to make an appointment visit click here.

IMPORTANT: To be tested, you must be in a vehicle, must have identification, must have an appointment and must have a prescription from a medical provider.

The Morris County COVID-19 drive-thru testing site is located at CCM, Center Grove Road, Randolph, NJ 07869. Residents with appointments must use the Center Grove Road entrance (see map) to access the site.

The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook, including a high winds watch, which is in effect tomorrow April 13 from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The current forecast also calls for rain from about 4:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m., with totals of 1½ to 2 inches.

Some thunderstorms — with a risk of strong-to-severe storms — are forecast between about 12:00 noon and 4:00 p.m.

The severe storm chance is 30 percent with wind gusts of 50-to-65 mph possible. Background winds will be strong from 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and strongest between about 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Sustained winds: 15-30 mph; frequent gusts: 40-50 mph; peak gusts: 55-60 mph.

PARSIPPANY — Joanne Davino, a cafeteria worker at Parsippany High School, has made over one hundred masks for the Parsippany community.

She has been working hard making masks for essential workers. She is a resident of Parsippany and is known as “The Lunch Lady” to the hundreds of students she serves meals to at Parsippany High School.

Masks are also available for purchase to help with the cost. Masks are available for Children, Women or Men at $5.00 each. Pick up only.  You can contact Joanne Davino on Facebook by clicking here or email gabriella.davino26@gmail.com.

MORRIS COUNTY — “Parsippany Supporting Our Town” with items donated from Stop & Shop (Morris Plains) were able to prepare and distribute 37 Easter baskets.

The baskets were made by the Kraus family and Finaldi family. The baskets were delivered by the team at Kraus Marketing: Justine Roche, Sam Codd, Michelle Kraus and Nicholas Kraus.

Thirty-three baskets were distributed to the children of Jersey Battered Women’s Service and another four for the children of St Peters Village Orphanage in Denville!

In just three weeks, “Parsippany Supporting Our Town” supplied over 2,100 meals to various groups, first responders, hospital employees and more. The group received $38,000 in donations, purchased $1,500 PPE for Parsippany Police and Parsippany EMS. They have 3,981 members of their FaceBook group (Click here). In addition they paid out over $23,000 to local businesses by purchasing meals.

Northpointe Bank sent $3,400 directly to the Jersey Women’s Battered Shelter; Donations from Stop and Shop for Easter baskets for 37 kids in Jersey Battered Women’s Shelter and St. Peters Village Orphanage.

“And a great feeling of community and as much positive that could be out there in this tough time,” said Chris Mazzarella, one of the groups organizers.

To request a meal, volunteer or to donate click here.

Parsippany parks will remain open, for now.

Please help keep everyone in our community safe, and if you see something, say something.

To report anybody not practicing social distancing in the parks, please call our Police Department at (973) 263-4300.

MORRIS COUNTY — Amid reports that the state’s long-term care facilities are failing to properly notify staff, caregivers and families of COVID-19 outbreaks, Assemblyman Kevin J. Rooney is calling on the Department of Health to force compliance with their updated directives and state law.

Under state law that went into effect in February, nursing homes must have outbreak response plans that include policies regarding notifying residents, staff and families. The law was in response to an adenovirus outbreak at a Wanaque nursing home that killed 11 children.

“It is heartbreaking to see loved ones in despair because the facilities are not answering the phone lines or communicating on how their family member is currently doing,” said Rooney (R-Bergen). “The lack of transparency at many of these facilities has to be fixed immediately to protect the staff, the residents and their family who are suffering in silence.”

Last week, the health department issued directives requiring nursing homes to notify their residents and staff, along with residents’ families, about cases of coronavirus within their facilities. The facilities were to comply with the orders by Monday. It is not clear how many facilities did not meet the deadline.

“Clear communication is critical right now. These are life and death situations. Nearly half of those who died are 80 or older,” explained Rooney.

At the governor’s daily coronavirus briefing Thursday, it was reported that 262 of the state’s 375 long-term care facilities have at least one positive case of COVID-19. There are 3,388 residents in long-term care, assisted living and dementia care facilities testing positive. Twenty of the new 198 coronavirus-related deaths Thursday were residents of these facilities.

The state’s three veteran homes have also been affected by the coronavirus, particularly the facility in Paramus, which reported 40 cases. In total, veteran homes have 58 positive cases and 13 deaths.

“Our veterans, our nursing home residents, health care workers and their loved ones deserve better,” said Rooney. “Family can’t visit their loved ones right now and some facilities are cutting off other forms of contact. It’s unacceptable.”

The health department said residents of nursing homes and staff members must be notified in person and in writing of a coronavirus outbreak. Families or whoever is designated responsible for the resident must be reached by telephone, email or another form of communication within 24 hours and in writing within three days. Notification must happen when a resident or staff member has a confirmed case or is under investigation for coronavirus.

PARSIPPANY — The County of Morris has identified an additional 14 Parsippany residents presumptively tested positive for COVID-19, since it was last reported on Wednesday, April 8.

The number of presumptive positive cases in Parsippany-Troy Hills stands at 258 individuals. It is also reported a total of 9 deaths related to COVID-19. (This data is as of 3:42 p.m., Thursday, April 9).

Morris County has a total of 2599 residents presumptively tested positive for COVID-19. This is an increase of 150 cases since Wednesday, April 8.

Please remember to continue the best practices of social distancing, washing your hands as often as possible, disinfecting any surfaces you may touch, and avoid touching your face. If you exhibit any symptoms of illness, please remember to consult your personal doctor immediately.

The County of Morris, in partnership with Atlantic Health, is offering drive-thru COVID-19 testing at the County College of Morris, Dover Chester Road, Randolph, NJ 07869, in parking lot 1. Testing is scheduled beginning 9:00 a.m. and is for Morris County residents only. There is no fee for the test.

To sign up for an appointment online click here for details.

For more information about COVID-19, please visit www.covid19.nj.gov or call 211.

For a complete breakdown of Morris County total presumptively tested positive cases, click here.