Monmouth County: The Place You Want To Be

Monmouth County Health Department Newsletter: January 2022

Monmouth County, New Jersey sent this bulletin at 02/04/2022 12:00 PM EST

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January 2022

February 2022 Newsletter

The Monmouth County Health Department strives to provide up-to-date information in our newsletter, website and mobile app available on Apple and Android devices. We encourage you to check our website often for the latest information, including COVID-19 clinics and vaccine availability.

Monmouth County Welcomes Shrewbury Borough

The Monmouth County Health Department (MCHD) is pleased to welcome Shrewsbury Borough to the MCHD system. Shrewsbury Borough is the 30th member town to join the Monmouth County Board of Health! Borough residents have full access to the wide array of services our Department provides. Please feel free to visit our Directory of Services for details.

Monmouth County Health Department App

MCHD recently launched its new app which provides residents and visitors to Monmouth County real-time news and information about services available through the County Health Department.

Users will have access to up-to-date information on our services and programs, including news, clinics and events, clinical and preventative health services, consumer and environmental health resources, emergency preparedness, mosquito control and much, much more.

Monmouth County COVID-19 Testing Vaccine Clinics

COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available for people five years and older. All COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and reduce the risk of severe illness.

MCHD offers testing and vaccinations monthly at the following sites:

First Wednesday of every month: Asbury Park Transportation Center, 1 Municipal Plaza

Second Tuesday of every month: Freehold Borough Fire Department, 49 W. Main St.

Third Wednesday of every month: Neptune Senior Center, 1607 Rt. 33

Fourth Wednesday of every month: Howell Senior Center, 251 Preventorium Rd.

Every Tuesday from 2-6 p.m. at Brookdale Community College, 765 Newman Springs Rd., Lincroft @ Children's Learning Center (CLC) Parking Lots 4 & 5.

In conjunction with Vault Medical Services, COVID testing is available to all Monmouth County residents at Brookdale Community College, 765 Newman Springs Rd., Lincroft in the BREC building, Parking lot # 7 on the following dates:

Mondays

8:00 A.M. – 2:30 P.M.

Tuesdays

8:00 A.M. – 12 P.M.

Thursdays

8 A.M. – 12 P.M.

Friday, February 11

8:00 A.M. – 1:30 P.M.

Friday, February 18

8:00 A.M.. – 1:30 P.M.

Sat. February 12

8:00 A.M. – 12 P.M.

Dates will be posted on the website for Brookdale Community College as they become available.

The only PCR test at the BREC is the saliva test. Please be aware that you can not eat or drink (other than water) 30 minutes prior to taking the test.

COVID vaccinations are available every Tuesday from 2-6 p.m. at Brookdale Community College, 765 Newman Springs Rd., Lincroft @ Children's Learning Center (CLC) Parking Lots 4 & 5 (vaccination only)

Additional clinics will be scheduled at MCHD member town sites. When these clinics are scheduled, MCHD will post them on our website and the MCHD app.

The New Jersey Department of Health and Vault Medical Services have teamed up to offer free at-home COVID-19 saliva testing for any person who believes they need to be tested, with or without symptoms. Follow this link for more information.

Choosing the Right Mask

By now we are all familiar with the recommendations to protect ourselves from COVID-19 and its variants, which include handwashing, social distancing, vaccination, and mask use. Mask use, type and effectiveness seems to be debated daily.

“Masks” as used here is a generic term for a variety of face coverings intended to provide the user with an increased level of protection from COVID-19. Masks come in a variety of designs and offer varying levels of protection.

A mask functions in two ways. During inhalation, the mask protects the wearer from inhaling viruses and other contaminants and during exhalation the mask protects surrounding individuals from contaminants that could be exhaled by the wearer.

Masks block/filter airborne contaminants thereby reducing personal exposure. Although viruses alone are smaller (0.06 – 0.14 microns) than the filtering capability of all masks and most respirators, viruses generally do not exist in the environment independently. Viruses attach to droplets or aerosols exhaled through a cough, sneeze, or through normal speaking and respiration. Many of these droplets are large enough to be affected by the use of masks.

Mask Protection as measured by Fitted Filtration Efficiency (FFE):

No mask use provides no additional protection.

No mask: 0% FFE

Cloth masks and gaiters offer an increased level of protection vs. no masking at all, but are limited by their lack of fluid resistance, the coarseness of the weave and their layers of protection.

Single-layer woven polyester gaiter: 37.8% FFE
Single-layer woven polyester/nylon mask with ties: 39.3% FFE
Cotton bandana folded “bandit” style: 49% FFE

Surgical masks, also called procedure masks, were originally intended for health care professionals and are designed to be fluid resistant. When properly worn, their multi-layer construction provides the wearer with increased inhalation protection against large droplets and sprays and protects the community from the wearer’s exhalation emissions. The mask should conform to the face to ensure that most of the air you breathe flows through the mask and not through gaps at the sides, top or bottom. Some common mask modifications which insure a tighter fit also increase the FFE rating.

Surgical mask with ties: 71.5% FFE

N95 is considered a respirator and when fitted correctly, reduces the wearer’s inhalation exposure to small particle aerosols and large droplets while providing exhalation protection to the surrounding community. The N95 is designed to filter 95% of airborne particles.

N95 Respirator: 98.4% FFE

When provided by an employer to an employee, the N95 becomes part of a workplace respiratory protection program that is regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). When used in an occupational setting the N95 mask must be certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ( NIOSH ). A NIOSH certified mask means that when the mask is properly fitted and verified by a fit test, the mask will filter 95% of the contaminants. N95 masks with exhalation valves which are sometimes used in OSHA settings are not recommended for COVID-19 protection as they will offer no exhalation protection to the surrounding community.

KN95 masks are not NIOSH certified and are designed to meet international standards. These international standards do not often have a quality requirement. They filter varying levels of particles in the air depending on the standard they are designed to meet, but when fitted and worn correctly will offer a degree of personal protection. CDC recommends approved respirators whenever possible.

Some over-the-counter masks currently available are marketed as N95 but do not bear a NIOSH certification. For the consumer, this means the mask has not been independently certified by NIOSH and that the wearer is “taking the word” of the manufacturer that the mask will perform to a certain standard.

International standard and counterfeit respirators may offer an increased level of protection by virtue of their multi-layer design and advertised water repellent materials, and the fact that “a” mask is preferable to “no” mask, but the wearer should understand the potential risks involved.

COVID-19 can spread through droplets and particles released into the air and health care professionals continue to recommend masking in public places. Additionally, if you are infected with COVID-19 and do not know it, a mask can keep your respiratory droplets and particles from infecting others.

Ask The Inspector

Do you have a question about a Public Health topic? Restaurants? Body Art? Tanning? Rabies or Animal Control? Septic Systems? Environmental issues? Immunizations? Solid Waste? This is your opportunity to Ask the Inspector. Send your questions to health@co.monmouth.nj.us, and we may answer them in an upcoming newsletter.

Question: I have a septic and a well and I am trying to sell my house. What do I have to do?

Answer: MCHD gets asked this question almost daily. The answer depends on the municipality in which the property is located.

If the property is serviced by municipally supplied water and sewer, the MCHD is generally not involved. But if the property has a septic and/or a well, MCHD has certain responsibilities.

Water requirements

Private Well Testing Act (PWTA)

PWTA is a laboratory test of the untreated/raw water that is required by the State of NJ when selling or leasing a home or multi-unit dwelling with a private well.

The bacteria portion of the test may be no older than six months and the nitrites, chemicals and other parameters may be no older than 12 months.

Additionally, rule amendments adopted in 2021 require that private wells subject to sale or lease are now required to be tested for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). The PWTA rules require testing at the time of a real estate transaction, or every five years for rental properties, and notification to potential buyers and tenants.

Septic System Requirements

Must produce a septic pump receipt within the last three years. If the tank has not been pumped within the last three years you must have it pumped and provide a pump receipt to MCHD.

Individual Requirements by Municipality:

Town	PWTA	Pump Receipt	Physical Inspection	Residential	Commercial	Rental
Holmdel	X			*
Howell	X	X	X	*	X	X
Marlboro	X	X	X	X	X	X
Millstone	X	X	X	*	X	X
Upper Freehold	X			*

* The residential septic system is inspected privately as negotiated between the buyer and seller and not inspected by MCHD. If a malfunction is detected and/or repairs are required, a permit must be obtained from the municipality and the repairs must be approved and inspected by MCHD.