As the state continues to receive encouraging health data, which is helping to determine potential dates of reopening and the lessening of restrictions, a new emphasis has been placed on expanded and accessible COVID-19 testing.

Over the last few months, our hospital data has informed our public health officials on our state’s progress of flattening the curve. We have made significant strides but the virus is still out there. Increased testing will increase data, allowing our health officials to get a clearer picture of any potential hotspots so that our communities can quickly and proactively mitigate the spread.

Testing has increased significantly across the state of New Jersey since the first COVID-19 positive case on March 4th. At the end of March, testing facilities were reporting 6,000 tests a day. In April, the daily number of tests doubled, and as we near the end of May, New Jersey has surpassed its goal a few days early of conducting at least 20,000 COVID-19 tests. 

Today, there are 208 testing locations across the state of New Jersey. To get tested, you do not need to be symptomatic, nor do you need a prescription. The state has partnered with private sector companies which are now offering testing at numerous Rite Aid, CVS, and Walmart locations across the state. To find a testing location near you, please follow this link: https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/testing#test-sites.

As testing increases, the need for “contact tracers” has increased as well. Contact tracing is used to identify those who have been exposed to a positive case so immediate public health actions can be taken. The state is assembling a Contact Tracing Taskforce to guide this effort and anticipates 20 to 30 contact tracers needed per 100,000 people. 

Contact tracing involves a bit of investigative health work. Trained staff will interview people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and try to determine who may have recently been in contact with them. The tracers then contact those people who have been exposed and can advise them to quarantine to help prevent spreading the disease. If you are interested in helping with our community’s contact tracing efforts, please sign-up here: https://covid19.nj.gov/forms/tracer.

To assist our contact tracers, Executive Order No. 141 mandates that all local, county, and regional health departments use the CommCare platform to support contact tracing efforts. CommCare will ensure that all data is centralized and uniformly reported. This will increase collaboration among the municipalities for a more regional, county-based approach. This approach will ensure that a more efficient and accurate data stream exists and will allow state officials to continue rolling back restrictions and restarting our economy.

We all have a role to play in this effort - get tested, keep up with your social distancing, wear a face covering when you're out in public, and wash your hands. 

Have a great weekend, and stay safe. 

Sarah Neibart

Mayor, Mendham Township