TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy today requested the support of the United States military and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assist New Jersey’s efforts to expand hospital and intensive care unit capacity in preparation for the continued spread of COVID-19. The Governor’s request was made in a letter sent to President Trump in response to the President’s comments this morning that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is “ready, willing, and able” to pursue such efforts. “This public health crisis is a direct threat to our national security and the safety of our people, and the Northeast region, which is the densest region by population in America, is the most susceptible to a virus that rapidly transmits among individuals,” said Governor Murphy. “By working together to identify buildings that can serve as facilities to provide emergency and intensive care, we can save many thousands of lives.”At the direction of the Governor, the New Jersey National Guard and the Department of Health Commissioner, Judith Persichilli, are currently working on efforts to expand New Jersey’s hospital capacity. Commissioner Persichilli is working closely with hospitals in the State to examine the feasibility of reopening shuttered hospital wings and hospitals. The letter cites estimates from the Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs at Rutgers-Camden that New Jersey could be facing a peak shortfall of anywhere from 123,000 to 313,000 hospital beds, sometime between May and October. It also notes that New Jersey may need an additional 2,000 critical care beds in the next two weeks.Governor Murphy’s letter, which notes the extensive social distancing efforts he ordered yesterday to slow the spread of COVID-19, also reiterated his call for additional supplies to support health care workers on the front lines of statewide response efforts.“Additionally, even as we identify and secure additional facilities, those efforts will be futile unless we have the personal protective equipment needed to allow health care workers to operate and the ventilators that are needed to treat patients,” added Governor Murphy. “I urge you to assist us as we seek to rapidly expand these critical supplies.”A copy of the Governor’s letter can be found here.
TRENTON – To further strengthen New Jersey’s aggressive social distancing measures, Governor Phil Murphy today announced an Administrative Order mandating the indefinite closure across New Jersey of 1) all indoor portions of retail shopping malls and 2) all indoor and outdoor places of public amusement across New Jersey. The Order, issued by State Director of Emergency Management Colonel Patrick Callahan, supplements the list of facilities currently closed to members of the public, which includes casino gaming floors, racetracks, gyms, and entertainment centers.“Today is day one of life in New Jersey under the measures we’ve put in place to ensure social distancing, help ‘flatten the curve,’ and slow the spread of coronavirus,” said Governor Murphy. “During these extraordinary times, we all have of a role to play to protect public health and emerge stronger as one New Jersey family.”
The Administrative Order applies to the following facilities:
- All indoor portions of retail shopping malls. Restaurants and other stores located within shopping malls that have their own external entrances open to the public, separate from the general mall entrance, may remain open as long as they comply with prior directives on operating hours and takeout or food delivery services.
- All places of public amusement, whether indoors or outdoors, including but not limited to, locations with amusement rides, carnivals, amusement parks, water parks, aquariums, zoos, arcades, fairs, children’s play centers, funplexes, theme parks, bowling alleys, family and children’s attractions.
The Administrative Order does not apply to public parks and open recreation areas.The Order takes effect at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
A copy of the Administrative Order can be found here.
March 17, 2020
By: Dennis Symons, Jr.
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)—Lia Fail Pipes and Drums could not let a St. Patrick’s Day go without a performance. The band was scheduled to play in New York City today at the annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, but the COVID-19 virus precautions canceled any large gatherings. Today some members of the band decided to have a small performance to honor the day while still practicing save distancing with an outdoor performance and maintaining distances. The performance was at 2 pm in front of the Hamilton Township Fire Department, Station 17 and a small group of people who were out and about in Sayen Gardens watched from a distance across the street. Lia Fail Pipes and Drums were also scheduled to play in the Hamilton Township and Robbinsville Saint Patrick’s parades that hae also been canceled due to the COVID-19 emergency.
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day everyone!
Lia Fail Pipes and Drums St. Patrick’s Day 2020 Performance
March 17, 2020
Press release can be downloaded here from Vail Resorts Website
The Company will consider reopening Breckenridge, Heavenly and Whistler Blackcomb dependent on the situation with COVID-19 and weather conditions
BROOMFIELD, Colo., March 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ –Vail Resorts announced today that all of its North American resorts and retail stores will remain closed for the 2019-20 winter ski season amidst the continued challenges associated with the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). The decision follows the Company’s previously announced closure of its resorts from Sunday, March 15 through Sunday, March 22. The Company will consider reopening Breckenridge Ski Resort in Colorado, Heavenly Mountain Resort in Lake Tahoe and Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia in late April/early May, dependent on the situation with COVID-19 as well as weather conditions.
Additionally, the Company’s owned and operated lodging properties will close on Friday, March 20, with final check-ins allowed until 4 p.m. MT today. Epic Mountain Express, the Company’s Colorado transportation service, will run through tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18. Both will remain closed until further notice.
“Our decision to end the season now is evidence of the fast-moving situation involving COVID-19, and it was not an easy one to make as we deeply considered the extended impact it will have on our guests, employees and communities,” said Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts. “While it is incredibly disappointing for our Company to mark the end of the season so early, we know it is the most responsible path forward.”
Guests can process refunds and credits on pre-purchased lift tickets, lodging, ski and ride school, equipment rentals and more, subject to applicable terms and conditions, using an online form that will be available later today on the Company’s resort websites.
About Vail Resorts, Inc.(NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading global mountain resort operator. Vail Resorts’ subsidiaries operate 37 world-class mountain resorts and urban ski areas, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada; Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham in Australia; Stowe, Mount Snow, Okemo in Vermont; Hunter Mountain in New York; Mount Sunapee, Attitash, Wildcat and Crotched in New Hampshire; Stevens Pass in Washington; Liberty, Roundtop, Whitetail, Jack Frost and Big Boulder in Pennsylvania; Alpine Valley, Boston Mills, Brandywine and Mad River in Ohio; Hidden Valley and Snow Creek in Missouri; Wilmot in Wisconsin; Afton Alps in Minnesota; Mt. Brighton in Michigan; and Paoli Peaks in Indiana. Vail Resorts owns and/or manages a collection of casually elegant hotels under the RockResorts brand, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo.Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning and development subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc.Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.
- March 3, 2020 file photo of Vail Colorado by: Dennis Symons, Jr.
- A group from Hamilton and Robbinsville at Hunter Mountain Opening Day (A Vail Resort) 11/15/2019 file photo
- Jared Robinson from Hamilton Township, NJ navigates one of the features at Hunter Mountain NY, (A Vail Resort) 11/26/2019 file photo by: Dennis Symons, Jr.
Vail Resorts announced closing for the season due to COVID-19