Aiming to advance the testing of residents for Covid-19 in New Jersey, the General Assembly acted on a measure Monday that would authorize all licensed health care facilities and laboratories to collect specimens to test for COVID-19.

The legislature approved the bipartisan sponsored bill (A-3854) 65-0.

The sponsors, Assemblyman Herb Conaway, M.D. (D-Burlington), Assemblyman Daniel Benson (D-Mercer, Middlesex).  and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, R.N. (R-Morris, Somerset, Union) issued the following statements on their bill:

 “Increased testing is critical to gauging the spread of Covid19 in New Jersey,” said Conaway. “We need more tests available help residents and identify patients. We are in unprecedented times. We need to act swiftly to reduce the transfer of the virus and the effects of it our communities.”

“It’s crucial that we increase access to tests and consider the impacts that the coronavirus will have on our healthcare workers who are on our front lines every day,” said Muñoz. “Our medical facilities do not have the option to shut down like other businesses, so we must prepare for worker shortages and temporarily allow staffing ratios to be waived during a state of emergency.”

“We have a long road ahead of us,” said Benson. “This legislation strengthens the work being done on the frontlines by our healthcare workers. More testing sites will help us help residents as we navigate our way through this unfortunate time.”

The Assembly also passed a bill allowing virtual and remote learning to meet the 180-day instruction requirement for school districts in case of extended emergency school closures, the full Assembly voted 55-0-9 passing legislation on Monday.

The bill (A-3813) would apply during a declared state of emergency, public health emergency, or when a directive by the appropriate health agency or officer to close a school is given. It also makes further provisions during a public health emergency for approved private schools for students with disabilities.