A follow up to my last article....Covid 19 and the unvaccinated.

Just a brief follow-up on my last article about Covid-19, the data that supports vaccination, and the concerns about the delta variant that research shows is more contagious and causes more severe illness. 

Removing myself from interacting with residents on the various FB pages has in many respects been liberating, but it is also a source of incredible frustration.   Though the number of negative comments between residents has reduced from posts I created, there are times that I find it challenging to allow misinformation to go unrefuted or provide context to decisions made by the municipal government. But we all have our challenges in life!  I remind everyone if they have a question or a concern, please feel free to email me at knerwinski@lawrencetwp.com, and I will do my best to provide a timely response.

My recent article has prompted some on FB to question where I get my information.  As I stated, our Health Officer keeps me informed of current trends in Covid-19 cases.  I also receive daily Covid-19 Situation Reports from the NJ Office of Emergency Management.  But to educate myself on these issues, I have found the Mayo Clinic website to be a great resource.  Its non-profit status (and non-government affiliation) and worldwide reputation as a leading institute for medical treatment and research, to me, make it a trusted source.  (I know full well this will now prompt some to attack the Mayo Clinic….)

For information on the case to vaccinate:   https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/why-get-vaccinated

For information on the delta variant…..which is more contagious and causes more severe illness:  https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/covid-19-vaccine-urgency-as-delta-variant-continues-to-spread/

Everyone who is frustrated by the changing guidance from public officials over these past 18 months (whether from the CDC, the Governor, or the President) should take a step back and remember that Covid-19 presented as a completely new, more lethal virus than the world had experienced in more than 100 years.  Little was known about it, but as the medical researchers and providers did their outstanding work to gain the knowledge needed to fight its spread and treat the infected, their guidance changed as their understanding of the virus increased over time.  This should not be a source of frustration, and changing guidance should be expected as we continue with this fight. 

As for the change in policy for visitors and employees in our municipal building, things are fluid in a world health pandemic, and the data tells us that we are regressing in our fight against the virus.  Not changing or adapting to the data would be a dereliction of duty to the community and our employees.

EVERYONE (visitor and employee) will be required to wear a mask in the common areas of the building.  This should not be viewed as punishment to anyone.  It is a decision made for the health and safety of all who come into our municipal buildings.  As employees and visitors do their business, they will be socially distanced and separated by plexiglass at the counters --- and both visitor and employee will be masked.  If anyone prefers to continue to conduct their business outside at the North Entrance as we have done successfully and effectively for months, they will be accommodated.  

Covid-19 and the unvaccinated......

Those who are required to monitor the Covid-19 trends within our communities, and those who continue to keep informed about the world health pandemic in general, know and understand that this “thing” we have been going through since March of 2020 is far from over.  Yesterday, the Lawrence Township Health Officer, Keith Levine, came into my office to inform me of his concerns regarding the Delta variant of Covid-19 and its increasing presence in our region of the State.  He also followed up our discussion with data he is privy to as a NJ licensed Health Officer.  

Though many of our residents have chosen to become vaccinated, many have not.   The unvaccinated are now front and center in this pandemic.  They are the ones that are most vulnerable to the virus, and this more lethal strain known as the Delta variant.  The unvaccinated are becoming infected with the virus at a trending higher rate.  The unvaccinated infected with the virus are overwhelmingly the ones in our hospitals fighting for their lives, while the vaccinated who become infected overwhelmingly experience minor symptoms.

     

As I wrote previously, I feel unqualified to defend the efficacy of the vaccines since I am not a scientist or public health official. I have turned to trusted sources of information bypassing the hosts of the various cable and network news programs, to make an informed decision to become vaccinated; to protect myself, my family, and all those who I come in close contact with, and to do my part to stop the spread and mutation of the virus.  

But I do, however, feel a responsibility to share trusted information and facts that may present a pathway for those who have chosen not to be vaccinated (for other than valid medical reasons) to decide to do so.  These are bizarre political times we find ourselves in, and some have allowed their politics to determine their response to a health pandemic that has wreaked havoc across the world ---over boundaries and jurisdictions--because the virus doesn’t care about such things.   We will not climb out of this mess until we all join together to do what needs to be done to fight a health crisis – not a political war. 

The data shows that here in NJ, the vaccines prove to be 99.9% effective against the virus.  For those that test positive after complete vaccination, their cases are overwhelmingly proving to be minor. Of the nearly 32,000 Covid-positive hospital admissions reported between January 19 and July 12, more than 99% have been unvaccinated individuals.   

In his July 26 conference, Governor Murphy stated, “We have the most amount of people in our hospitals with COVID since June 9. Over the past week, the number of confirmed COVID-positive patients in our hospitals increased roughly 30% over two weeks ago. Today, the confirmed number is 357. To give you a sense, last Monday that was 274, and two Mondays ago it was 249. There are also 62 persons under investigation currently hospitalized. The ICU count is 78. That number is also up from last week, up by about 35%, and the number of patients requiring a ventilator is now 33, and that’s up modestly from 29 a week ago. Over the past week, 366 COVID-positive patients entered our hospitals, increasing about 30% from two weeks ago, while 343 were discharged.  The trends we are seeing over the past several days suggest we are not done seeing these numbers continue to rise.”

Based upon this information, the Township is changing its policy and requiring all persons entering our municipal buildings to meet and do “business” with our municipal employees to wear masks – regardless of their vaccination status.  Our employees will be wearing masks when they are not at their workstations or in their offices.   This is necessary so that we can, without interruption, provide the services the community needs, expects, and deserves. 

 

Some will refuse to wear masks, but they will be denied entry into the building.  We will continue to operate as we had in the past by conducting business at the North Entrance of the municipal building and using the black dropbox if your entry is denied because you refuse to wear a mask or it is simply your preference to not enter.  We will continue to have in-person meetings (council, board, and committee) and implement the standard protocols (mask-wearing and social distancing) we have become accustomed to during the pandemic.  

This change will be in effect on August 2, 2021, and will remain until further notice.  

The Pit Stop and beyond....

 

            The demolition of the Pit Stop building today (1175 Lawrence Road) was extremely satisfying to watch as a long-time resident of Lawrence Township.  For several decades the zombie building sat prominently in our community as a symbol of economic blight frustratingly just beyond our reach to address.   But, alas, it is no more.  What happens next, you ask?

            Once the building debris is removed, the land beneath the building is now accessible to test for contamination.  As most of you know, and I described in past blog articles, the property was the site of several gas stations, and, unsurprisingly, the soil was contaminated.  This property was the subject of extensive environmental remediation work years ago, but due to the complicated ownership issues involved, the work stalled at the footprint of the building. 

            We have successfully navigated through the ownership issues and were able to secure grant money from the NJDEP for the razing of the building and further testing even though the Township is NOT the property owner.  As previously explained, the Township will acquire the property (for $1) once it is deemed “clean” by the NJDEP. 

           If the testing reveals contamination in the soil where the building was situated, we will apply for grant money to continue the clean-up.  We do not think it is appropriate for the taxpayers of Lawrence Township to fund the clean-up of this private property even though we stand to become the future owner.  This may take more time to accomplish, but it will allow us to save our money for other projects for which funding is not available or less than we need to make it happen.  The NJDEP has signaled to us that this project is precisely the type that would qualify for assistance for the betterment of the community.  So we push forward.

        Once the property is certified "clean," the title is clear of liens and judgments, and the Township becomes the owner; the deal with the NJDEP is that we create a passive community park on the property.  As for the plans for the park?…..stay tuned!