21 News & Sports videos on how the pandemic has impacted the Jersey Shore
We are in the middle of Covid-19's second wave at the Jersey Shore, across the state and the nation.
Everything has changed since March 12 when cases began to be reported here and it led to subsequent closures of schools and businesses while precautionary measures were being taken everywhere.
Here are 21 Videos from our Newsroom and Sports Desk on some of the ways the Covid-19 Pandemic has impacted life at the Jersey Shore.
Continue scrolling down the page to see the timeline of events.
As of March 13, there were only 5 cases in Monmouth County with the 5th coming out of Manalapan. The State of New Jersey had 29 cases at that point. Governor Phil Murphy at that point was looking to cancel all public gatherings of 250 people or more.
Here is more News from March 13:
As of March 20, Monmouth County Freeholders and OEM officials declared a local state of emergency.
"It gives us the access to county facilities, activate the staff in the emergency operations center and utilize county employees where needed including assignments outside of their normal work locations," Freeholder Director Tom Arnone said.
Here is more News from March 20:
On March 27, Ocean County reported an overall total of 468 positive cases of Covid-19 with Lakewood Township having 198 of them. There were several large gatherings in Lakewood and Police Chief Greg Meyer said at that time there was 100-percent compliance with stay at home orders.
Monmouth County reported 506 positive cases of Covid-19.
Here is more News from March 27:
On April 3, Lakewood Police responded to multiple large gatherings including a funeral where between 60-70 people were gathered at once. The crowd became unruly and the Ocean County Prosecutors Office and Ocean County Sheriff's Office had to be called in to disperse the crowd.
New Jersey State Police then arrived in Lakewood to form a Task Force to break up large gatherings.
Here is more News from April 3:
On April 8, as cases continue to rise across Ocean County, the Shore and State EMS/EMT responders had to adapt and take extra precautions to make sure they were safe, the people they were responding to were protected as was the ambulances.
Here is an interview with Point Pleasant Beach EMS Squad Captain Andy Welsh on how they clean ambulances and keep people safe during the Pandemic:
On May 6, as cases were starting to slow down and things were slightly improving, Shore and State officials were determining the safest times, dates and ways to open up beaches and boardwalks for the summer season.
Ocean County Mayors, Police Chiefs and Lifeguards were bracing for the potential impacts.
Here is Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Paul Kanitra, Toms River Mayor Maurice "Mo" Hill, Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little, Bay Head Police Chief William Hoffman, President of the Ocean County Police Chiefs Association/Harvey Cedars Police Chief Robert Burnaford and Harvey Cedars Chief Lifeguard discuss the summer of 2020 and the changes that will be in place:
On May 15, conditions were improving and with the Little League World Series cancelled and Baseball/Softball seasons in doubt, District 18 Little League in Ocean County had formed a plan to play and include other districts around the Jersey Shore and the state to play a season from late summer into early fall.
Here is District 18 Administrator Frank Trenkle on what the plan was at that point:
On May 19, Monmouth County Freeholders held a press conference with some beach guidance for the summer. Before you went to your favorite beach and boardwalk in Monmouth County this summer, there was Covid-19 and other information that you needed to "Know Before You Go."
On May 21, Ocean County Assemblyman Ron Dancer made a plea along with Monmouth County Assemblyman Rob Clifton calling on Governor Phil Murphy to let Little League teams play a season this summer:
On May 26, 10th District Ocean County Assemblyman Greg McGuckin discussed legislation that he along with Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblyman John Catalano were introducing that would lower the amount of days on an Executive Order to 15 from 30 and were seeking transparency from the Governor.
On May 28, Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone discussed a proposal at a press conference to reopen the local economy while Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon discussed some of the challenges ahead of the primaries.
On June 8, Dr. Ken Sable, the Regional President for Hackensack Meridian Health's Southern Market which oversees Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune City, Ocean Medical Center in Brick Township and Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin discussed what we've learned during the Covid-19 pandemic and where we go from here.
On June 16, Outdoor Dining only was permitted with the pandemic starting to improve but it was a big challenge for some Jersey Shore restaurants especially those who don't normally offer that kind of seating which sparked some creativity.
On June 23, you could get your hair and nails done again as those businesses were allowed to reopen. Ocean County Barbershops, Hair & Nail Salons as well as Tattoo shop owners and their loyal clients discussed their excitement and concerns as the second wave of New Jersey's reopening reached personal care facilities.
On July 1, Monmouth County Freeholders announced that they were allocating $10-million from the federal CARES Act funding they received to provide grants of up to $10,000 to businesses with up to 50 employees.
On July 17, Baseball games were underway for nearly two weeks at that point in Ocean County's District 18 Little League and much of the proposed health and safety guidelines were taking shape with masks, social distancing and hand sanitation leading the charge.
On July 20, Ocean County Public Health Coordinator Dan Regenye discussed the importance of wearing face coverings and when at the beach and boardwalk and when you aren't, how important social distancing is to your health and the health of everyone else.
On July 21, Monmouth County Freeholders announced that they were opening up testing sites in some of the more densely populated municipalities of Asbury Park, Freehold Borough, Keansburg, Neptune, Long Branch and Red Bank where residents may also have trouble finding a site that's also free to get swabbed.
On October 2, Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone discussed Covid-19 updates at a press conference including pushing for answers from the state and asking that indoor dining seating be increased while Deputy Director Sue Kiley discusses a new initiative to help residents struggling economically during the pandemic.
Continue following Townsquare Media Jersey Shore News for all the latest in how the Covid-19 pandemic is impacting Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
You can follow Vin Ebenau on Twitter and Instagram and email news tips to vin.ebenau@townsquaremedia.com.