Home » State unveils new COVID-19 vaccine appointment-finding tool

State unveils new COVID-19 vaccine appointment-finding tool

by Community Contributor

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has launched a new online tool to help people more easily find COVID-19 vaccination appointments.

The beta version of the state’s new appointment finder can be accessed at http://covid19.nj.gov/finder. The online tool aggregates information across multiple scheduling platforms multiple times an hour, Gov. Phil Murphy said, allowing people to search for available vaccine appointments at locations across the state. NJDOH will continue to test the appointment finder and make improvements, he said.

“Appointments are still limited, but this new tool will take some of the stress out of your search,” the Governor said.


Facing eviction due to pandemic? Help may be available

Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes reminds renter households in Mercer County impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic that the deadline to apply for financial assistance toward unpaid rent or utility bills has been extended until April 5. Help is available through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) launched by the Mercer County Department of Human Services, Office on Homeless Services, in partnership with the Mercer County Board of Social Services. For more information, visit www.mercercounty.org/ERAP.  


Vax-TCHS
VACCINATIONS

Overview More than 107,400 Mercer County residents have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 55,994 Mercer residents have been fully vaccinated, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. The NJDOH data dashboard shows that as of this morning, March 31, a total of 159,337 vaccine doses had been administered to Mercer County residents. Statewide, more than 2.7 million people have received at least one dose of vaccine and 1,570,914 people have been fully vaccinated. A total of 4,225,964 vaccine doses had been administered to New Jersey residents as of this morning.***Mercer County hosts two vaccination sites – one at CURE Arena in Trenton, in partnership with Capital Health, and the other at Mercer County Community College’s West Windsor campus. To receive a vaccination at either site, you must first register with the NJ Vaccine Scheduling System (NJVSS) at https://covidvaccine.nj.gov or by calling 855-568-0545.No walk-ups can be accommodated at the vaccination sites.You will be notified when it is time for you to schedule an appointment. For more information, visit the COVID-19 Vaccination page on the Mercer County website.

Need assistance with NJVSS? Visit covid19.nj.gov/vaccinehelp or call New Jersey’s COVID-19 vaccination call center toll-free at 855-568-0545. Individuals ages 65 and older can call a special senior hotline at 856-249-7007 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for vaccination scheduling support.

For information on vaccination eligibility, vaccination locations and more, visit the state’s vaccine website at https://covid19.nj.gov/vaccine. Even if you are eligible for receiving a vaccine, an appointment may not be immediately available to you due to  limited vaccine supply.

TESTING

Mercer County offers a free at-home saliva test for COVID-19 in partnership with Vault Health Services. The saliva test is available to County residents 14 years or older and anyone employed as a first responder or health care worker in Mercer County. Details on the at-home testing program, along with a list of COVID-19 testing locations in Mercer County, can be found on the COVID-19 Testing page on the County website.


CURRENT STATUS

The NJ Department of Health on March 31 announced 4,586 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 (established through PCR testing), bringing the cumulative total of confirmed cases in the state to 799,391 and 44 additional confirmed COVID-19 deaths, bringing the cumulative total to 21,993 confirmed deaths and 2,568 probable deaths. Mercer County’s 122 new confirmed cases bring its cumulative total to 28,849, with 864 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and 44 probable deaths. To view Mercer County data by municipality, please visit the Mercer County COVID-19 Dashboard at https://arcg.is/1y1eHO. Please note that municipal data lags behind the state data and will update as information becomes available. Visit the New Jersey Department of Health’s COVID-19 Dashboard  for more statewide information.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 31 announced 62,726 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the cumulative total of positive cases in the United States to 30,213,759; and 807 additional deaths, bringing the cumulative total to 548,162, with 55 locations (50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, North Mariana Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands) reporting.

HAVE GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID-19?

The NJ Poison Control Center and 211 have partnered with the state to provide information to the public on COVID-19:
Call (general COVID-19 questions): 2-1-1 (24/7)
Call (medical COVID-19 questions): 1-800-962-1253 (24/7)
Call (vaccine appointment support): 1-855-568-0545 (8a-8p)
Text: NJCOVID to 898-211 to receive alerts
Visit covid19.nj.gov or nj.gov/health for additional information


COPING WITH STRESS

If you’re feeling stressed, anxious or depressed due to COVID-19, please call New Jersey’s Mental Health Hotline at 866-202-HELP (4357) or visit njmentalhealthcares.org for emotional support, guidance, and mental health referrals as needed. You also may contact: 
• SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline: Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 (TTY 1-800-846-8517). 
• Crisis Text Line: Text “NJ” to 741741
• Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-572- 7233
• Family Helpline: 1-800-843-5437
• Listing of additional resources.

Heal NJ image
HEAL, NJ Health Care Workers COVID Hope & Healing Helpline, provides live COVID crisis counseling support, 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to all New Jersey health care workers, their families, and caregivers statewide, with emergency support available 24/7. Call 1-833-416-8733 or visit healhealthcareworkers.com.
Rise image
RISE, NJ First Responders COVID Hope & Healing Helpline, provides live COVID crisis counseling support, 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to all New Jersey first responders, including police, firefighters, EMS, National Guard, military and veterans, their families, and caregivers statewide, with emergency support available 24/7. Call 1-833-237-4325 or visit risefirstresponders.com.

JOBS AND HIRING

Did you lose your job or have your hours reduced as a result of COVID-19? The State of New Jersey has created a resource page to help you connect to benefits and resources you need while you are trying to safely get back to work, as well as some tips for coping with the stress of losing a job: covid19.nj.gov/work. For a listing of employment opportunities, visit jobs.covid19.nj.gov.


BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

For information on COVID-19/Novel Coronavirus and its impact on businesses – including resources, assistance and regulations — visit the State of New Jersey business portal and the Mercer County Office of Economic Development’s COVID-19 Business Resources page.


Mask Up, Mercer (new)
PREVENTION AND SYMPTOMS.
How COVID-19 spreads:
COVID-19 spreads easily from person to person, mainly by the following routes:
• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within 6 feet). 
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, breathes, sings or talks. 
People who are infected but do not show symptoms can also spread the virus to others.

To ensure the lowest chance of obtaining the virus, and spreading the virus to others:
• Wear a face mask that covers your nose and mouth in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household. Masks help stop the spread of COVID-19 to others. Improve how your mask protects you.
• Practice social distancing — stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people who are not from your household in both indoor and outdoor spaces.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. 
• Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or use the inside of your elbow.
• Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.

Symptoms can appear between 2-14 days after exposure, though some people may not have any symptoms while still being contagious. Symptoms can include: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.

If you believe you’ve been infected and you are not in immediate danger, you should contact your doctor by phone. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911, and notify the dispatch personnel that you may have COVID-19. COVID-19 Symptom Checker.

Submitted by Mercer County

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