Monday Feb 7 News Updates Lakewood

 Weather: Showers this morning becoming a steady light rain during the afternoon hours. High around 40F

- 93 new covid cases in Lakewood +4 deaths since Friday totals 23494/359 

- 27 new cases in Jackson totals  12370/138

- 60 new cases in Toms River +1death 20960/407

- Murphy: "The statewide mask mandate for schools and child care settings will be lifted effective March 7th. We are optimistic that given the decreased severity of this new variant, and the continued increase in vaccinations, that we are finally nearing this inflection point. We are not going to manage COVID to zero. We have to learn how to live with COVID as we move from a pandemic to an endemic phase of this virus".

- NJ teachers union “We are encouraged by the data showing a rapid decline of COVID transmission in NJ. Because of that, we are cautiously optimistic that the current statewide school mask mandate can be safely relaxed in the near future, assuming current trends continue." critics point out that  the CDC has not changed anything yet they all said follow the science.

- Several large pot holes on Lakewood area roadways following the snow storms, crew have not fixed them yet

- Gov. Murphy to end school mask mandate for N.J. next month starting March 7, It wasn’t clear if individual school districts would be permitted to implement their own rules about face coverings. Critics ask where is the parental opt out and why a month from now.

- NJ Dept of Health vaccination campaign targeting the Lakewood community showing a ad featuring  a guy with long payos and a black hat. Currently 37% of Lakewood residents received one covid shot. Ages  65 and over are at  92%

- Lakewood zoning board meeting today town hall see Agenda HERE watch Live stream Here  application for a cell tower on top of the Elenore Levovitz building at 500 Clifton Avenue. Request Variance to build duplexes on Lanes Mill from R-20 - R7.5

- Spirit and Frontier Airlines announced a $6.6 billion merger, a combination of low-fare carriers that would create America's fifth-largest airline.

- Shiurei Sefer Yehoshua Bahalacha vaagada from Horav Michoel Sorotzkin this past motzei shabbos watch here