Apply Now for Spring Turkey Hunt Permit

Wild Turkey in New Jersey

The Turkey Hunting Booklet has been discontinued.

Spring 2020 season information

is found in the

2019-20 Hunting Digest

on pages 14 and 58-61 and below:

Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information 2019-2020

(pdf, 475kb)

Spring Turkey Permit Application Information

Apply NOW!

Changes to Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge Hunt Program

Spring 2019 Turkey Season Harvest Data

The Division\’s Turkey Restoration Project represents one of the greatest wildlife management success stories in the history of the state. By the mid-1800s, turkeys had disappeared in New Jersey due to habitat changes and killing for food. Division biologists, in cooperation with the

NJ Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation

, reintroduced wild turkeys in 1977 with the release of 22 birds. In 1979 biologists and technicians began to live-trap and re-locate birds to establish populations throughout the state. By 1981 the population was able to support a spring hunting season, and in December, 1997, a limited fall season was initiated.

There is now an abundance of wild turkeys throughout the state with turkeys found wherever there is suitable habitat. In South Jersey, where wild turkeys had been struggling just a few years ago, intensive restoration efforts have improved population numbers significantly. The statewide population is now estimated at 20,000 – 23,000 turkeys with an annual harvest of approximately 3,000 birds.

Youth turkey hunters

aged 10 to 16 with a

Youth License

can obtain a \”Y\” permit which allows them to hunt in any hunting period in the zone that they obtain a permit for during the spring season. Youth hunters aged 10 to less than 14 must be under the supervision of a licensed adult who is at least 21 years of age. The adult does not have to have a turkey permit, but they do have to have a regular license. This regulation applies until the youth takes a turkey. After taking a turkey, the youth is subject to the same hunting period and zone restrictions as an adult. There is also the special statewide

Youth Turkey Hunting Day

each year.

Spring turkey permits are awarded via a

lottery

followed by over-the-counter sales; the lottery application period is January 25-February 22. There is no lottery for the fall season.

REGULATIONS/PERMIT INFORMATION

2018-2019 Wild Turkey Hunting Season Regulations and Information

(pdf, 190kb)

Turkey Hunting Area Map

Spring 2019 Lottery Quota Information

(pdf, 85kb)

Turkey Hunting Area Boundary Descriptions

(pdf, 100kb)

Turkey Permit Information

Turkey Check Stations

(pdf, 110kb)

HARVEST/POPULATION DATA

Wild Turkey Harvests and Population Estimates, 1981 – 2019

2004-2019 Spring Gobbler Season Harvest Data

Public Turkey Hunting Land

(pdf, 280kb)

Primary Turkey Range and Public Land in NJ

Turkey Hunting Tips and Basic Information for the Turkey Hunter

Principal Foods for Wild Turkeys

Turkey Patterning Target

(pdf, 50kb)

ADDITIONAL LINKS

Wildlife Technician Joe Garris Honored

(NWTF news release, 2/21/09)

NJ Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation

Hunting Regulations

Small Game Information

Hunter Education

Farmer Information

Wildlife Management Areas

Forms

Feature Articles

James W. Dunlap of Philadelphia, Charged with Attempted Murder Inside a Woodlynne Home

Camden City, N.J. — 52-year-old James W. Dunlap of Philadelphia, was arrested Jan. 28 on charges of attempted murder, burglary, aggravated assault, and related weapons offenses stemming from a Jan.

23 stabbing inside a Woodlynne home, according to Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer and Woodlynne Public Safety Director Ed Figueroa.

On Thursday, Jan. 23, a 64-year-old man was taken to Cooper Medical Hospital with multiple stab wounds to the upper body shortly before 11 p.m., according to detectives. A witness told investigators Dunlap forcefully entered a Woodlynne home before allegedly stabbing the victim and assaulting another individual inside the home.

Dunlap was apprehended by members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force – Camden Division in Logan Township. He was remanded to the Camden County Jail pending a pretrial detention hearing.

All persons charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Philadelphia Calendar Of Events for February

The Philadelphia Auto Show

Through February 8, 2020

BEETHOVENNOW.

The Philadelphia Orchestra marks Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday with pianists Yefim Bronfman, Daniil Trifonov and Emanuel Ax performing all five of Beethoven’s piano concertos at the

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

(215) 893-1900,

philorch.org

Philadelphia Auto Show, February 8-17, 2020

— Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia

Through February 23, 2020

THE ROTHMAN ORTHOPAEDICS ICE RINK AND CABIN AND WINTERGARDEN.

The Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Skating Rink, the Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin and Wintergarden finish their seasonal run at

Dilworth Park,

City Hall’s front yard. (215) 440-5500,

centercityphila.org

Through February 29, 2020

BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

Major attractions across the city—including

The African American Museum in Philadelphia,

the

National Constitution Center,

the

Free Library of Philadelphia

and more—celebrate the month throughout February with events and special programming.

visitphilly.com/articles/philadelphia/black-history-month-in-philadelphia

February 1, 2020

AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN’S BOOK FAIR.

One of the oldest and largest single-day events for African American children’s books in the country, the 28th annual African American Children’s Book Fair at the

Community College of Philadelphia

features nationally known and bestselling authors and illustrators, representatives from the multicultural literary community, enriching children’s books, and activities that promote the power and joy of reading.

theafricanamericanchildrensbookproject.org

February 1–16, 2020

GETAWAY AT THE GREENHOUSE.

Fairmount Park Horticultural Center

celebrates summer in winter, setting up a giant sandbox, live music, food trucks and

Gaia, The Traveling Artwork

, British artist Luke Jerram’s spectacular giant globe of the Earth featuring detailed NASA photography. (215) 685-0096,

myphillypark.org

my-earth.org

February 1 – June 7, 2020

VOTES FOR WOMEN: A VISUAL HISTORY.

The

Brandywine Museum of Art

commemorates the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote using drawings, illustrations and posters expressing the message of the suffragists, as well as costumes, clothing, sashes and emblems worn by the women activists. (610) 388-2700,

brandywine.org

February 1 – June 14, 2020

WITNESS TO HISTORY: SELMA PHOTOGRAPHY OF STEPHEN SOMERSTEIN.

This exhibit on display at the

Brandywine Museum of Art

documents the historic 54-mile march for civil rights from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. (610) 388-2700,

brandywine.org

February 4 – March 27, 2020

FOURTEEN: A THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE.

The

National Constitution Center

sheds light on the Reconstruction era and ratification of the 14th Amendment in a 35-minute performance featuring dramatic interpretation of original texts, including Frederick Douglass’s open letter “To My Old Master.” (215) 409-6700,

constitutioncenter.org

February 6–9, 2020

GREY ROCK.

A fantastical new work from director and playwright Amir Nizar Zuabi bridges American and Palestinian cultures and makes its Philadelphia debut with a five-person cast from Palestine, including acclaimed actor Khalifa Natour, at

SEI Innovation Studio

at the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus.

kimmelcenter.org

February 6–16, 2020

PHILLY THEATRE WEEK.

A 10-day regional theatrical festival promises 100 events, including panels, concerts, meet-ups and loads of live theater. (267) 761-9950,

theatrephiladelphia.org

February 7 & 8, 2020

BLUE HEAVEN COMEDY FESTIVAL.

FringeArts presents their second-annual alt-comedy fest. (215) 413-9006,

fringearts.com

February 7–9, 2020

NICK JR. LIVE! MOVE TO THE MUSIC.

Friends from

Bubble Guppies

Paw Patrol

Dora the Explorer

Shimmer and Shine

Blue’s Clues and You

Blaze and the Monster Machines

, and

Top Wing

lead a singing-and-dancing adventure at the

Academy of Music.

(215) 893-1999,

kimmelcenter.org

February 8, 2020

JOURNEYS.

Acting Without Boundaries (AWB), a Philadelphia-based theater workshop for kids, teens and young adults with physical disabilities, takes part in Philly Theatre Week (see above) by performing a songs and scenes from some of Broadway’s greatest hits in the

Rendell Room of the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus.

kimmelcenter.org

February 8–17, 2020

PHILADELPHIA AUTO SHOW.

The automotive industry’s latest creations are on a 750,000-square-foot display at the

Pennsylvania Convention Center,

the showplace for more than 700 pre-production, classic, luxury and exotic cars.

phillyautoshow.com

February 13–16, 2020

SHARE THE LOVE WEEKEND.

Bucks County’s

Peddler’s Village

offers a Valentine’s weekend shopping sales event, restaurant specials and

Murder at the Moulin

dinner shows. (215) 794-4000,

peddlersvillage.com

February 14–16, 2020

ARETHA: RESPECT.

To honor the Queen of Soul, The Philly POPS features Broadway powerhouse Capathia Jenkins and R&B singer Ryan Shaw in a program that includes renditions of

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Respect

and

Chain of Fools

. (215) 893-1999,

phillypops.org

February 15, 2020

AFRICAN AND DIASPORIC CULTURES CELEBRATION.

The Penn Museum’s second CultureFest of the year reunites traditional and contemporary African and African Diasporic arts through mask-making, drumming and more live music, storytelling, film screenings and an African marketplace. (215) 898-4000,

penn.museum

February 15 – September 20, 2020

SURVIVAL OF THE SLOWEST.

Survival strategies of sloths, iguanas and pancake tortoises, among other animals that are slow and small, are explored in this exhibit at the

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.

(215) 299-1000,

ansp.org

February 16, 2019

MUMMENSCHANZ: YOU & ME

. The mesmerizing Swiss theatrical troupe performs their brand-new show at the

Annenberg Center

creating shapes, forms, sounds and stories that delight audiences of every age. (215) 898-3900,

annenbergcenter.org

February 19 – March 1, 2020

HELLO, DOLLY!

Matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi and the rest of the characters from the musical-comedy classic make their way to the

Academy of Music

as part of the Broadway Philadelphia series. (215) 893-1999,

kimmelcenter.org

February 21 – March 14, 2020

#GLASSFEST.

This three-week festival presented by the

Annenberg Center

celebrates Philip Glass’ career and includes the Philadelphia premiere of the composer’s

Music in Twelve Parts

and the world premiere of

The White Lama

, a theatrical piece by Nikki Appino that features a score by Glass. (215) 898-3900,

annenbergcenter.org

February 23

–

May 10, 2020

MARIE CUTTOLI: THE MODERN THREAD FROM MIRÓ TO MAN RAY.

Cuttoli, a modern art pioneer, commissioned international modernist artists to design pieces that were woven into tapestries, as seen in this

Barnes Foundation

exhibit. (215) 278-7200,

barnesfoundation.org

February 24 – March 6, 2020

EAST PASSYUNK RESTAURANT WEEK.

Three-course prix fixe lunches and dinners are available (tax, alcohol and gratuity not included) at various restaurants in the South Philly neighborhood.

eastpassyunkrestaurantweek.com

February 26 & 27, March 18 & 19, 2020

DANCE UP CLOSE.

A three-part, midweek, midwinter dance festival that began with

Junkspace

with Tori Lawrence at

Christ Church Neighborhood

House

in January continues with

Boundaries & Other Works

and

Nest

, at

Christ Church Neighborhood House

in February, and wraps

Reassembling Corporeal Knowledge

, featuring short videos, live solos and duets at

FringeArts

in March.

philadelphiadance.org

February 26–29, 2020

TURN.

Philadelphia performance artist M’Balia Singley world premieres a work that delves into themes from Shakespeare’s

Othello

through the lens of an African American woman at the

SEI Innovation Studio

at the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus.

kimmelcenter.org

February 28 – April 26, 2020

WARREN MULLER: ON AND OFF THE WALL.

Philadelphia artist Warren Muller shares his illuminated sculptures inspired by the people and the city he calls home at

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens

. (215) 733-0390,

phillymagicgardens.org

February 29 – March 8, 2020

PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW.

The annual gardening celebration at the

Pennsylvania Convention Center

is the oldest and largest indoor show of its kind, with top-of-the-line horticulture and landscape design, entertainment and more than 100 vendors. This year’s theme: “Riviera Holiday.” (215) 988-8800,

theflowershow.com

NJ’s LGBTQ Laws Rated in Human Rights Campaign’s State Equality Index

An estimated 8 million LGBTQ Americans, their friends and families remain at risk of discrimination if they live in one of the 30 states without adequate protections.

WASHINGTON —

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation and the Equality Federation Institute released their 5th annual

State Equality Index

(SEI), a comprehensive report detailing statewide laws and policies that affect LGBTQ people and their families, and assessing how well states are protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination.

New Jersey

falls into the category,

“Working Toward Innovative Equality.”

“As LGBTQ people continue to face an onslaught of attacks from the federal administration in Washington, the Human Rights Campaign’s 2019 State Equality Index (SEI) documents how states were instrumental in advancing equality through pro-LGBTQ legislation, policies and proposals,” said

HRC President Alphonso David

. “In the absence of federal non-discrimination protections for the LGBTQ community, states must put policies in place to ensure equality for their residents, workers and visitors. In 2020 and beyond, the Human Rights Campaign will continue to work with our partners to defeat anti-LGBTQ legislation in the states and secure new protections for our community, both at the state and federal level. Already, we see the promise of even more protections passing state legislatures in 2020, including action taken in Virginia advancing the

Virginia Values Act

.”

Due to the lack of explicit, comprehensive civil rights protections for LGBTQ people at the federal level, the rights of millions of LGBTQ people and their families vary depending on which state they live in. In 30 states, LGBTQ people remain at risk of being fired, evicted or denied services because of who they are. These top-rated states and Washington, D.C., have robust LGBTQ non-discrimination laws covering employment, housing and public accommodations.

The SEI’s assessment of statewide LGBTQ-related legislation and policies in the areas of parenting laws and policies, religious refusal and relationship recognition laws, non-discrimination laws and policies, hate crime and criminal justice laws, youth-related laws and policies and health and safety laws and policies has placed each state in one of four distinct categories:

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia are in the highest-rated category, “Working Toward Innovative Equality”:

California, Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; District of Columbia; Illinois; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Minnesota; Nevada; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York; Oregon; Rhode Island; Vermont; and Washington

Three states are in the category “Solidifying Equality”:

Hawaii; Iowa; and New Hampshire

Two states are in the category “Building Equality”:

Utah and Wisconsin

Twenty-Eight states are in the lowest-rated category “High Priority to Achieve Basic Equality”:

Alabama; Alaska; Arizona; Arkansas; Florida; Georgia; Idaho; Indiana; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Michigan; Mississippi; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Pennsylvania; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Texas; Virginia; West Virginia; and Wyoming

“The State Equality Index highlights how far we have come in the fight for LGBTQ equality in each state. For years, we’ve been working with our member organizations to pave the way for nationwide protections by winning state and municipal laws that make discrimination illegal. We’re keeping that momentum going. We have big plans for a future where we can thrive in all the places we call home,” said

Rebecca Isaacs, Executive Director of the Equality Federation

. “This year, we will work with members on a host of issues, including non-discrimination legislation in places like Virginia and Ohio. Together, we are impacting the lives of millions of LGBTQ Americans. We can, and we will win this fight.”

Last year, the pro-equality majority in the U.S. House of Representatives passed the

Equality Act

, a bill to establish comprehensive federal protections for LGBTQ people. But as HRC and other civil rights organizations work toward establishing these critical federal protections, accelerating progress at the state level is critical.

This SEI report comes as 38 state legislatures and the District of Columbia have opened their sessions — and with several good bills introduced, including the Virginia Values Act, a bill that would modernize Virginia\’s existing human rights laws and provide non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people in public employment and housing. In New Jersey, the governor has signed a bill to ban anti-LGBTQ “panic defenses.”

Unfortunately, we have also seen the introduction and passage of bad legislation, including

a Tennessee bill

that would allow child welfare organizations — including taxpayer-funded adoption and foster care agencies — to turn away qualified Tennesseans seeking to care for a child in need, including LGBTQ couples, interfaith couples, single parents, married couples in which one prospective parent has previously been divorced or other parents to whom the agency has a religious objection. In

South Dakota

, the state House of Representatives passed a bill that effectively bars instructors who teach grades K-7 in the state’s public schools from instructing students on gender identity or gender expression.

Advancing LGBTQ non-discrimination protections at the state and federal level is supported by a wide swath of Americans. A recent PRRI survey found that 71 percent of Americans support LGBTQ non-discrimination laws like the Equality Act. A map of this patchwork of laws can be found

here

HRC’s full State Equality Index report, including detailed scorecards for every states, and a preview of the 2020 state legislative session is available online at

www.hrc.org/sei

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America\’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

Democratic Candidate Running Against Van Drew Upset with Trash Left From Trump Rally

STATEMENT FROM BRIGID HARRISON REGARDING THE TRUMP/VAN DREW RALLY CLEAN-UP EFFORTS

[January 30, 2020 – Longport, New Jersey] – This morning,

The Cherry Hill Courier-Post published an extensive news story

detailing the enormous clean-up efforts and expense the Wildwood/Cape May community has been forced to address after Tuesday night\’s Trump/Van Drew political rally.

The following is a statement from Brigid Callahan Harrison, Democratic candidate for Congress in New Jersey\’s second congressional district:

\”When Jeff Van Drew first chose to obstruct Congress\’s rightful authority to investigate very serious allegations against Donald Trump, he assisted in the withholding of crucial information related to the 2020 election and chose to help Trump get away with a crime.

\”When Jeff Van Drew negotiated his backroom deal with Trump and switch parties, he chose to take the Trump campaign money and to put his self-interest ahead of the people of the 2nd district.

\”But what is most telling is that during that moment, when Trump asked Van Drew what he wanted in return, he had only one answer – he wanted his very own political rally.

\”Van Drew did not ask Trump to help our community on issues that matter, like Health Care, Infrastructure, and Student Loans, instead the trade-off continued to be about Jeff Van Drew\’s interests, not the people of our district.

\”The result is that we now have a new Trump pawn in Congress and a huge, costly mess in Wildwood to clean up. Thousands of people from outside the district came to Wildwood on Tuesday, which has clearly resulted in labor and costs for Wildwood, Cape May, and the 2nd District, and once again, we see Van Drew self-interest taking the top priority.

\”It is Van Drew\’s obligation to clean up his own mess, both in Wildwood and in Washington.

\”With the dust now settling after Tuesday night, it is clear we have work to do. We have immediate work to do with the clean-up in Wildwood, and we must all come together to vote Jeff Van Drew out of office. Van Drew chose to violate the trust of those who voted for him, including me. He has ignored the voices of New Jersey\’s second congressional district, the progressives, moderates, and independents who united to get him elected. And it is clear, he cares only about himself.

\”Jeff Van Drew has made his choices, and on November 3, 2020, we will make ours,\”

Law Banning Plastic Bags Released – Will Go Into Effect 18 Months from Signing

Trenton, NJ (January 30, 2020)–The plastic bag ban bill, S864 (Smith/Greenstein), was released by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee today, January 30, 2020. The bill prohibits the

provision or sale of single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use paper carryout bags, and polystyrene foam food service products. It also limits the provision of single-use plastic straws and appropriates moneys from the Clean Communities Program Fund for public education. The bill was amended to go into effect 18 months after it is signed for plastic bags, paper bags, and polystyrene, and 1 year for straws.

“Today, the battle to stop plastics begins all over again. Now that this bill has left the committee, it is critical to get this bill passed as soon as possible. Every day of delay means that more plastics are getting into our environment and into us. This is the most comprehensive plastic bill in the nation because it bans paper bags as well as single-use plastic bags. This legislation is critical because it could make New Jersey a national leader in going after plastics and protecting our environment,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “We have been fighting to get this bill passed for over two years. Given the delays, it is important that they have changed the effective date to 18 months instead of 2 years. It is critical that our legislators push this bill through quickly, because the longer we delay the worse our plastic problem gets.”

Last year, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) found that the use of thick ‘reusable’ plastic bags in the UK increased from 960 million in 2018 to 1.5 billion 2019, likely a direct result of a country-wide single use plastic bag ban. This shows that consumers are using thicker plastic bags in the same disposable manner as single-use plastic bags, because they are being regularly replaced. The study recommended banning thick plastic bags entirely to effectively reduce plastic waste for the UK.

“This legislation is critical because it bans so-called ‘reusable’ thick plastic bags as well as single-use bags. There has been a push for these fake reusable bags to replace thin plastic bags, but these bags do not work. Places that replace single-use plastic with these ‘bags for life’ still find piles of them in the garbage or polluting the environment. Because they are thicker and woven with fine plastic fibers, they only increase our plastic waste problem and become microplastics that enter our water supplies and food chain,” said Jeff Tittel. “We need to ban plastics, but these thicker plastic bags would only continue to clog our storm drains, kill our wildlife, and pollute our drinking water. We are glad that this legislation will protect us from all plastics, regardless of thickness.”

Bans on plastic have proven to be effective. For example, Los Angeles County saw a 94 percent reduction in single-use bags after implementing a ban. This included a 30 percent reduction in paper bag use with a 10-cent fee on other bags. In San Jose, they saw an 89 percent decrease of bags in storm drains, 60 percent fewer in creeks, and 59 percent fewer in streets.

“This is an important day for the state of New Jersey. This bill will help protect our rivers and streams from plastic that not only hurts the environment but also endangers our wildlife and public health. Without this legislation, plastics will continue to kill whales and get into our environment and into us. Microplastics have already been found near our drinking water supply, so we could literally be drinking plastic. Plastic bags have been known to clog storm drains and fill up detention basins, affecting our water quality. Animals, especially birds, get strangled and suffocated by plastic bags,” said Tittel. “This bill is important because it will ban polystyrene containers and single-use plastic bags, including fake thick plastic reusable bags, and will allow paper bags to be used during the transition before banning those as well.”

This is the first bill in the country that would ban paper bags in addition to single-use plastic bags. So far, eight states have banned single-use plastic bags, including California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon, and Vermont. In New Jersey, towns like Paramus, Bayonne, Lambertville, Avalon, Belmar, Hoboken, Jersey City, and Teaneck are all passing plastic bag ban ordinances.

“This legislation is a major step forward in dealing with single-use plastic bags as well as polystyrene and plastic straws. Polystyrene is dangerous to human health because it contains carcinogenic chemicals such as benzene and styrene, and it has been found in breast milk. It is harmful to the environment because it is not recyclable and does not degrade. Plastic straws pollute our oceans and beaches. Last year, New Jersey found that more than 80% of their trash is plastic and found an increase in plastic straw waste by 59%,” said Jeff Tittel, “By reducing how much plastic we use, we can also reduce fracking and fossil fuel use. Plastics are made from natural gas, which means more fossil fuel use, more pipelines, and more fracking.”

Plastics have become a bigger and bigger problem that affects our environment. Rutgers scientists found densities of about 28,000 to more than 3 million plastic particles per square kilometer in the Passaic and Raritan Rivers. Beach sweeps in New Jersey found that beaches from Monmouth County down to Cape May County have micro plastics in the ocean and on the beach.

“Now that this bill has left committee, our legislators need to pass it as quickly as possible because this is landmark legislation for New Jersey when it comes to plastics. People are fed up with plastic pollution filling up their storm drains and threatening their drinking water. 38 towns in New Jersey already have plastic bans in effect, 18 have passed ordinances that are not yet in effect, and dozens more are in the process. New Jersey’s Legislature needs to stand up and be as bold as places like Jersey City and Sea Bright. We need this comprehensive statewide ban to combat our plastic pollution effectively,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Our Legislature must work quickly to get this to the governor\’s desk to sign before our plastic waste problem gets worse. We cannot afford to wait any longer.”

source NJ Sierra Club

NJ Dept. of Health Opens Novel Coronavirus Call Center

TRENTON, NJ (January 30, 2020)–The New Jersey Department of Health today announced the opening of a hotline (1-800-222-1222) for the public to ask questions about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

“Although the risk to the public remains low, we understand that residents have questions about this new virus,” Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said. “This hotline provides factual information to alleviate fear and dispel rumors.”

The hotline is being operated by the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES), also known as the New Jersey Poison Center, which has run other call centers for the Health Department. NJPIES is a division of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. The hotline can accommodate callers in multiple languages.

“

As a 24-hour hotline staffed continuously with trained healthcare professionals, the New Jersey Poison Center is standing by to answer questions about this emerging infection. The call is always free, and we can communicate in any language to the public as well as healthcare professionals,” said Dr. Diane Calello, Executive and Medical Director of NJPIES.

The hotline is part of a comprehensive approach by the state and medical and public health partners to respond to novel coronavirus (nCoV) by ensuring the public health and health care system preparedness.

The Department has an CoV

webpage

that includes CDC updates, travel advisories and guidance sent to health care providers, local health departments, infection preventionists and other health partners.

On Friday, Commissioner Persichilli sent a letter to hospital CEOs detailing

specific guidance

to healthcare professionals on how to evaluate reports of patients with possible nCoV illness, such as taking a careful travel and exposure history to determine if they meet specific CDC testing criteria. At this time, only the CDC laboratories in Atlanta have the capabilities to test for nCoV, though it is expected that state public health laboratories will be able to test soon.

The Department has also been in contact with Newark Liberty International Airport’s Division of Global Migration and Quarantine and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in advance of airport screening.

“The Department reminds individuals with recent travel to Wuhan, China or close contact with someone who has and are experiencing symptoms, to call their health care provider in advance before arriving to the office so they can make accommodations in advance,” Commissioner Persichilli said.

Patients with confirmed nCoV infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath. CDC believes at this time that symptoms of nCoV may appear in as few as two days or as long as two weeks after exposure.

New Jersey continues to work closely with the CDC and local health partners to monitor the situation and will provide updates accordingly.

For more information, visit our homepage at

nj.gov/health