COVID-19

Many areas of the country are continuing to experience increases in COVID-19 activity, though other areas are experiencing declines in COVID-19 activity following increases this summer. COVID-19 test positivity, emergency department visits, and rates of COVID-19–associated hospitalizations remain elevated, particularly among adults 65+ and children under 2 years. Surges like this are known to occur throughout the year, including during the summer months. There are many effective tools to prevent spreading COVID-19 or becoming seriously ill CDC. If you think you could have COVID-19 and are at higher risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about testing and/or treatment right away, even if your symptoms are mild. If you don’t have a healthcare provider, contact your local community health center or health department. As of August 19, 2024, KP.3.1.1 is the predominant COVID-19 variant in the United States COVID-19 Data Tracker. 

More information: About COVID-19: NJDOH

CDC's Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) for COVID-19 :
No-cost COVID-19 testing for uninsured people that are symptomatic or exposed

If sick with COVID-19: Stay at home and away from others until both your symptoms are getting better and you are fever free (without fever reducing medication) for 24 hours. Then take added precautions for the next 5 days. This is also applicable to some other respiratory viral illnesses that have similar health impact including influenza and RSV.

If exposed to COVID-19: Wear a mask for 10 full days since your exposure. Get tested on Day 6. Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19. Continue to wear a mask and monitor for symptoms through day 10.

CDC's Respiratory Virus Guidance Update FAQs

2024-2025 Updated COVID-19 vaccines: Check with your nearby pharmacies, HCPs, local health department, or FQHCs to see if you can get vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone age 6 months and older receive an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to protect against COVID-19 this fall and winter, whether they have ever previously been vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine or not. Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines

Weekly COVID-19 PSAs will not long be posted. For up-to-date COVID-19 information including confirmed case numbers and vaccination rates, visit the NJ COVID-19 Dashboard.

• 2023 PSAs
• 2022 PSAs
• 2021 PSAs
• 2020 PSAs

• New Jersey Dept of Health COVID-19 Dashboard
• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
• World Health Organization
• NJ Dept of Labor and COVID-19: What employers and businesses should know
• Coping With Grief
• COVID-19 and Pets / Animals
• Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation During an Infectious Disease Outbreak 
• Social Distancing During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak  (Englewood Health YouTube video)
• Order Free COVID-19 Test Kits

Insurance Coverage of Updated COVID-19 Vaccines:
"Up until this point, the federal government had purchased all COVID-19 vaccines and provided them free of charge to anyone, regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay. COVID-19 vaccines supply this year have transitioned to the commercial market. With commercialization, the way in which vaccines are paid for and whether they are covered by insurance will now be dictated by insurance market rules and regulations. Because of the Affordable Care Act and laws passed during the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be free of charge to virtually everyone with private and public insurance coverage, although uninsured adults will have no guarantee of free vaccines." Source: www.Kff.org

Please see the cheat sheet for details on coverage rules by insurance type and for people who are uninsured.  

To find COVID-19 vaccine locations near you: Search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233