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♪ >>> HELLO, EVERYBODY, WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX," I'M DAVID CRUZ.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES FACING MOMS TO BE IN THIS COVID AGE.

SO MANY THINGS TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT AND SO MANY DECISIONS, INCLUDING WHETHER OR NOT TO GET VACCINATED.

TURNS OUT, THERE'S NOT ONE RIGHT ANSWER.

WE'LL GET INTO THAT IN A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE START TODAY WITH THE BANE OF YOUR EXISTENCE, IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE THOUSANDS WHO HAVE FILED AN UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIM ONLY TO RUN INTO ANY NUMBER OF PROBLEMS GETTING YOUR MONEY, THE GUY TAKING A LOT OF THE FLAK FOR THAT IS THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ROBERT.

COMMISSIONER, THANKS FOR TAKING A FEW MINUTES WITH US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU, DAVID.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND ALL YOUR COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE BECOME AN IMPORTANT VOICE FOR WORKERS IN NEW JERSEY THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC BUT I DO HAVE TO TAKE ISSUE.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE THE BANE OF THE EXISTENCE FOR THE 1.5 MILLION CLAIMANTS WHO HAVE NOW RECEIVED $22.8 BILLION IN FAMILIES OBTAINING BENEFITS AND WHILE WE ARE WORKING EVERY SINGLE DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CLAIMANT IS RECEIVED THE BENEFITS THEY ARE DUE, WE DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE MADE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE STATE AND 1.5 MILLION WORKERS WHO HAVE HAD TO CLAIM UNEMPLOYMENT SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

>> I WAS SAYING YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE BANE OF EXISTENCE FOR THOSE WHO HADN'T RECEIVED SUCH GREAT SERVICES.

BUT ALL RIGHT, WE PUT A CALL OUT TO VIEWERS, ASKING FOR THEIR QUESTIONS, AND WE HAD AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE, MORE THAN ANY OTHER TIME WE'VE CALLED OUT FOR QUESTIONS.

SO, A LOT OF WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, COMMISSIONER, IS DIRECTLY FROM AND ON BEHALF OF VIEWERS AND VIEWERS THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS CHAT.

I WANT TO START BY DEFINING TERMS, COMMISSIONER.

YOU TOUCHED ON THIS A LITTLE BIT.

SO, THE SYSTEM WAS, IS A MESS?

THAT'S WRONG?

>> WELL, LET ME BE VERY CLEAR F. THE SYSTEM IS CERTAINLY A MESS AND WAS NOT CREATED TO HANDLE COVID OR ANY PANDEMIC OR EMERGENCY OF THIS SIZE.

UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE IMPLEMENTING HERE IN NEW JERSEY AND ACROSS 53 STATES IN THE COUNTRY, WAS CREATED IN 1934.

QUITE FRANKLY, AS PART AND PARTIAL INCOME REPLACEMENT FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

THAT BEING SAID, WITH THE FEDERAL EXTENSIONS, AND OTHER INCREASES TO IT, WHICH WE SUPPORT ALL OF IT, WE WANT ALL OF OUR WORKERS TO GET AS MUCH BENEFIT AS POSSIBLE, YET IT'S STILL PUT ON TOP OF THE SAME INFRASTRUCTURE, I DON'T JUST MEAN TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE BUT REGULATORY INFRASTRUCTURE, STATUTORY INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM FOR CLAIMANTS.

THERE'S NO DOUBT PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS GETTING THROUGH ON THE PHONE, PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S ON THE WEBSITE.

BUT THE BIG PICTURE PROBLEM HERE IS THE FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM.

>> LET'S GET TO SOME VIEWER QUESTIONS AND JUST A NOTE TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WATCHING, A LOT OF YOUR QUESTIONS WERE SIMILAR TO ONE ANOTHER SO IF YOU DON'T HEAR YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION, KNOW THAT WE'VE TRIED TO COMBINE IT WITH SOME OTHERS OF THESE.

SO, WE ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT THESE EMAILS REALLY CONVEYED THE FRUSTRATION, PAIN, DESPERATION THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FEELING, SOME FOLKS LEFT WITH $0.

SO, LET'S START WITH THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW COMING UP ON THEIR ONE YEAR OF BEING OUT OF WORK.

IS THIS WHAT THEY'RE CALLING THE BENEFIT YEAR GLITCH?

>> WELL, WE DON'T CALL IT THAT.

>> I THINK -- >> IF YOU WANT TO SAY IT'S A GLITCH IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM, YOU CAN CALL IT THAT.

>> WE SHOULD ALSO ESTABLISH THAT THE TERMS THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO USE MAY NOT MATCH DIRECTLY WITH YOUR INTERPRETATION.

>> YES, DON'T MATCH WITH THE FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT LAW?

QUITE FRANKLY, I MEAN, IT COULD CERTAINLY BE A GLITCH FOR A CLAIMANT BUT THAT IS PART OF THE LAW WHEN SOMEONE COMES UPON THEIR YEAR ANNIVERSARY DATE, THEY HAVE TO AT THAT POINT.

DEPENDING ON WHAT THEIR INDIVIDUAL SITUATION IS, DAVID, AND AGAIN THIS IS WHY THIS IS SO KP COMPLICATED BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE CLAIMANT IS IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION BUT GENERALLY THEY WILL HAVE TO FILE -- REFILE A NEW CLAIM.

WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT IN ABOUT FIVE WEEKS TIME, ON TOP OF THE FACT THAT THE CURRENT EXTENSION FROM BENEFITS IS GOING TO EXPIRE, WEEK ENDING MARCH 13th, THE WEEK AFTER THAT, OR THE TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT IS WHEN WE HAD THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CLAIMANTS A YEAR AGO.

SO, WE ARE RIGHT NOW BATTENING DOWN THE HATCHES AND DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO WORK WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS TO GET AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR CLAIMANTS AND AUTOMATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR CLAIMANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS LESS, QUOTE, UNQUOTE GLITCHES BUT REALLY JUST THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE TO DO THAT PER FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT LAW.

>> THIS IS FROM ANNA MARIE.

I, ALONG WITH MANY MEMBERS OF MY UNEMPLOYMENT GROUP ON FACEBOOK, ARE GOING ON EIGHT WEEKS WITHOUT PAY, WAITING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO IMPLEMENT THE 11-WEEK EXTENSION INTO THEIR SYSTEM.

THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, SHE SAYS.

PLEASE FIND OUT WHEN WE WILL RECEIVE OUR MONEY, WHICH IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

>> AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO -- ONE, I EMPATHIZE WITH ANN MARIE, I'M NOT LOOKING AT HER CLAIM RIGHT NOW.

BUT THE 11-WEEK EXTENSION HAS BEEN ADDED TO ALL CLAIMS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT 11-WEEK EXTENSION.

NOW, KEEP IN MIND, DAVID, AND EVERYTHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UNEMPLOYMENT, THE NUMBERS ARE H HUMONGOUS SO THERE ARE 75,000 CLAIMANTS WE PRAMD A WEEK AND A HALF AGO AND THERE'S GOING TO BE SUBSETS THAT HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THEIR CLAIM FOR SOME OTHER REASON, MAYBE THEIR EMPLOYER CONTESTED, MAYBE THEY HAVE SOME OTHER KIND OF PROBLEM OTHER CLAIM OR THEY ANSWERED ONE OF THE QUESTIONS ADVERSELY DURING THE CERTIFICATION.

THIS IS SOMETHING I TALKED ABOUT A LOT LAST SPRING WHERE AT THAT POINT IN TIME, 40,000 PEOPLE A WEEK WERE ANSWERING A QUESTION ADVERSELY.

NOBODY DID ANYTHING WRONG BUT THESE ARE THE FEDERALLY MANDATED QUESTIONS WE NEED TO ASK.

EVEN LAST WEEK, 20,000 CLAIMANTS A WEEK, 20,000 A WEEK WERE STILL BEING PENDED BECAUSE ONE OF THOSE EIGHT QUESTIONS WAS BEING ANSWERED IN A WAY THAT WE HAD TO PEND THEIR CLAIM, PER FEDERAL RULES.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS FURTHER DOWN ON MY LIST OF SIX PAGES OF QUESTIONS, BUT WHY IS THAT SO?

I MEAN, WHAT HAPPENS THERE?

>> IT'S A DIFFERENT ANSWER FOR EVERY CLAIM.

WE TOOK THE ENORMOUS STEP LAST SPRING, DAVID, OF GOING AND PUTTING ON OUR WEBSITE BASICALLY A STEP BY STEP GUIDE ON WHAT THE ANSWER TO EACH QUESTION MEANT.

THAT'S SOMETHING NO OTHER STATE HAS EVER DONE AND WE WENT FURTHER.

IN ORDER TO GO TO YOUR CERTIFICATION, YOU NEED TO ATTEST AND CLICK A BOX THAT YOU HAVE READ THE QUESTIONS AND WHAT EACH ANSWER MEANS.

BUT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE STILL, WELL, ONE, THE ANSWER MIGHT BE ACCURATE TO WHAT THEIR SITUATION IS, AND IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE NEED TO TALK TO THEM, WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE DIFFERENT EARNINGS -- >> COMMISSIONER, WHEN SOMEONE -- WE GOT A QUESTION ON THIS SPECIFICALLY.

SOMEONE ANSWERED A QUESTION INCORRECTLY, BUT THERE'S NO WAY TO GO BACK AND FIX THAT, AND THEN THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN FIX THAT IS TO INTERACT DIRECTLY WITH SOMEONE AT THE D.O.L.

AND THEN THEY CAN'T GET INTO ANYONE.

>> THERE'S CERTAINLY A PROBLEM ON THAT FRONT.

LIKE I SAID FROM THE TOP, GETTING THROUGH TO SOMEBODY IS DIFFICULT.

HOWEVER, WE'VE TALKED OVER A MILLION CLAIMANTS ON THE PHONE SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGUN.

TENS OF THOUSANDS A WEEK.

WE TALK TO.

SO ONE, KEEP TRYING.

TWO, BACK UP A SECOND.

ON THAT ISSUE ABOUT PEOPLE BEING PENDED BY THEIR ANSWER, EVERY WEEK WE RUN AN AUTOMATED SCRIPT THAT AUTOMATICALLY UNPENDS THE ONES THAT WE FEEL COMFORTABLE UNPENDING.

THERE ARE CERTAIN ONES THAT WE, BECAUSE OF FEDERAL LAW, WE NEED TO SPEAK TO THAT PERSON.

THERE'S NO DOUBT.

AND THAT IS DEFINITELY A HANG-UP FOR PEOPLE.

I DID NOT DENY THAT AT ALL.

WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WITH A NEW ADMINISTRATION, THAT SOME OF THESE RULES OR REGULATIONS CAN BE RELAXED.

BUT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR FOR ALMOST 12 MONTHS NOW AT THIS POINT.

BUT IN THE END, WE ARE A FEDERAL PROGRAM AND WE ARE BOUND BY THEIR RULES AND STATUTES ON THIS STUFF AND I THINK WE'RE PRETTY MUCH WALKING RIGHT UP TO THE EDGE AND PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES ON THIS FRONT ON BEHALF OF OUR CLAIMANTS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> SO IT'S CLEAR THAT THE PHONES ARE A PROBLEM.

THE WEBSITE'S A PROBLEM.

THE SUBCONTRACTORS WHO ARE DOING CUSTOMER SERVICE TYPE WORK, ALSO A PROBLEM.

WHERE DO YOU START IN W?

WHAT CAN YOU TELL PEOPLE IN TERMS OF THOSE THINGS RIGHT THERE THAT ARE GOING TO BE FIXED IN THE IMMEDIATE SHORT-TERM OR IS IT TOO OPTIMISTIC TO THINK THAT IN THE -- A WEEK OR TWO, THAT THAT PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE SOLVED?

>> WELL, YOU HIT ON A LOT OF PROBLEMS THERE, DAVID.

NOTHING'S GOING TO BE FIXED OVERNIGHT.

I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT WE ARE WORKING DAY AND NIGHT TO IMPROVE EVERYTHING FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE COME UP WITH NEW AUTOMATED PROCESSES WHICH WE -- IF WE HADN'T HAVE DONE, THERE WOULD BE ABOUT 230 30 THOUSAND MORE PEOPLE PENDED WEEK THAN THERE ARE RIGHT NOW.

WE'VE TRIPLED THE NUMBER OF FOLKS BETWEEN OUR OWN STAFF AND CALL CENTER FOR WORKING UP EMPLOYMENT IN THE STAFF AND WE'RE HIRING LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE DAY IN BATCHES OF FOLKS TO COME ON BOARD AND BE TRAINED TO BE UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS EXAMINERS.

WITH THE VOLUME THAT WE HAVE, IT IS NEVER GOING TO BE PERFECT FOR EVERYBODY.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THERE WILL BE FEDERAL RELAXMENT -- RELAXATION OF SOME OF THESE GUIDELINES BUT EVEN THAT WILL NOT BE IMMEDIATE.

THERE'S NO DOUBT, DAVID, THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY WAS NOT MADE FOR THE IMMEDIATE, DIRECT RELIEF OF FAMILIES DURING AN EMERGENCY.

>> THIS QUESTION FROM MEAGAN, WHO SAYS THAT THE THIRD PARTY CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS WHO I ASSUME ARE THESE KIND OF SUBCONTRACTORS THAT YOU HAVE HIRED, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXTEND THE CLAIM DATE YEAR.

ALL THEY CAN DO IS, QUOTE, ESCALATE YOUR ISSUE AND THEY TELL YOU IT CAN TAKE FOUR TO SIX WEEKS TO HEAR BACK AND MEAGAN ASKED THAT I PRESS YOU ON HOW YOU CAN PROACTIVELY EXTEND THE CLAIM'S YEAR SO THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CLAIMANTS DON'T HAVE TO CALL IN TO THE AGENCY COME MARCH AND GET A REAL DEAL AGENT ON THE LINE TO DO THIS FOR EACH PERSON.

>> AS I SAID BEFORE, DAVID, WE ARE WORKING FURIOUSLY TO MAKE SURE WE CAN AUTOMATE THAT PROCESS FOR FOLKS.

AGAIN, THIS IS A FEDERAL SYSTEM.

WE CAN'T DO CERTAIN THINGS WITHOUT THE FEDERAL U.S.

GIVING US THE OKAY TO DO SO BECAUSE IF WE DON'T WAIT, WE'RE PUTTING EVERY CLAIMANT AT RISK OF MASS OVERPAYMENT AND PUTTING OUR ENTIRE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM AT RISK OF BEING OUT OF COMPLIANCE.

WHICH WOULD BE OBVIOUSLY A DISASTER FOR EVERYBODY.

AS FAR AS THE CALL CENTER, YES, IT IS CORRECT THAT THE FOLKS AT THAT CALL CENTER, TIER ONE, DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE A LOT OF CHANGES TO CLAIMS OR MAKE ANY CHANGES AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF FEDERAL RULES, NUMBER ONE.

THAT A U.S. -- THAT A NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR EMPLOYEE HAS TO BE THE ONE TO MAKE A FINAL DETERMINATION ON A CLAIM.

AND NOW WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EXTENDING DATES OR BACK DATING OR CHANGING A BENEFIT AMOUNT, THOSE ARE ALL FILED DETERMINATIONS THAT CANNOT BE MADE BY THE CALL CENTER STAFF AND ON THE TIMING WINDOW, WHERE THEY'RE BEING TOLD SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS, WHATEVER IT IS, THAT'S THE GENERIC ANSWER.

CERTAINLY SOME FOLKS ARE GOING TO TAKE THAT LONG BUT CERTAINLY SOME FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE MUCH QUICKER DEPENDING ON WHAT THEIR ISSUE IS.

AGAIN, A LOT OF FOLKS CALL THE CALL CENTER WHEN THEY SEE JUST, FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEBODY ANSWERED A QUESTION ADVERSELY IN A WEEK AND THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, YOUR CLAIM NOT PAYABLE AT THIS TIME, CALL THE CALL CENTER AND LET'S SAY IT HAPPENED ON TUESDAY BUT THEY HAVE ONE -- THEY'RE ONE OF THE ONES WE CAN AUTOMATICALLY UNPEND, THAT WILL RUN ON FRIDAY OR SATURDAY NIGHT AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THEIR BENEFIT WITHOUT TALKING TO THE CALL CENTER SO IN THOSE CASES, THERE'S NO WAIT TIME ESSENTIALLY SO WE ENCOURAGE CLAIMANTS TO CONTINUALLY CHECK THEIR ONLINE STATUS AND TO TRY TO CERTIFY DURING THE WINDOW BECAUSE SOMETIMES -- NOT SOMETIMES.

MANY TIMES FIXES ARE MADE WITHOUT THE CLAIMANT TAKING ANY ACTION WITH SOMEBODY ON THE PHONE.

>> LASTLY, YOU WANT TAKE A MINUTE, COMMISSIONER, TO TALK TO FOLKS WHO ARE IN REALLY DESPERATE TIMES AND JUST FROM THE HEART, IF YOU WOULD, TO FOLKS WHO ARE FACING REAL CHALLENGES RIGHT NOW.

>> LISTEN, I AM THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVANTS, ABOUT 3,000 PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO CAME INTO THIS LINE OF WORK TO HELP PEOPLE.

MOST OF THEM DID IT TO HELP PEOPLE, NOT FOR THE PAY OR PRESTIGE.

IT'S TO HELP PEOPLE.

OUR MISSION AT OUR DEPARTMENT IS TO HELP WORKERS, WHETHER THEY'RE WORKING OR NOT WORKING AND WE FEEL EMPATHY AND SADNESS FOR THE SITUATION THAT COVID HAS PUT PEOPLE IN.

WE'RE A DEPARTMENT THAT IS USED TO HELPING PEOPLE, LIFT THEM OUT OF POVERTY, HELP THEM GET EMPLOYMENT, HELP THEM GET BENEFITS WHETHER IT'S UI OR TEMPORA TEMPORARY DISABILITY OR FAMILY LEAVE.

AND WHILE WE ARE PROUD OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE TO SPOFRT SUPPORT 1.5 MILLION CLAIMANTS WITH $22 BILLION, WHICH IS JUST MIND BLOWING, WE HEAR EVERY DAY FROM THOUSANDS OF CLAIMANTS WHO ARE IN A BAD WAY.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN EVERY SECOND, EVERY NIGHT, EVERY DAY TO GET MONEY TO THOSE CLAIMANTS IN ANY WAY FOOTBALL.

POSSIBLE.

BUT WE'RE ALSO WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS AT OTHER STATE AGENCIES, IF PEOPLE NEED FOOD ASSISTANCE, PEOPLE NEED OTHER KIND OF TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, ASSISTANCE TO HELP KEEP UP THE HEAT AND POWER ON.

WE WANT TO BE THERE FOR EVERYBODY WITH A WHOLE GOVERNMENT APPROACH.

AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT THE FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IS LIMITED.

AND ITS GOAL AND PURPOSE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EVERY CLAIMANT IN NEW JERSEY GETTING EVERY PAYMENT THEY DESERVE AND WORKING WITH THEM TO HELP THEM WITH OTHER SERVICES.

>> AN APOLOGY IN ORDER AND ARE YOU OFFERING ONE?

>> LISTEN, I'M CERTAINLY SORRY THAT FOLKS ARE IN THIS SITUATION.

THERE'S NO DOUBT.

DO I WISH I COULD HAVE WAVED A MAGIC WAND AND KNOWN COVID WAS COMING?

AND ASKED FOR THOUSANDS MORE STAFF BEFORE LAST MARCH?

ABSOLUTELY.

AND AM I SORRY THAT PEOPLE ARE IN THIS POSITION?

ABSOLUTELY.

BUT I STAND BY THE FACT THAT DECISIONS WE HAVE MADE FROM MARCH 15th ON OF LAST YEAR HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FOR THE GOAL AND WITH THE RIGHT ANSWER OF PAYING THE MOST PEOPLE, THE MOST MONEY AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE AND THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT -- WHO ARE LEFT OUT OF THAT IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.

BUT EVERY DECISION WE MAKE ON AUTOMATION, ON TIMING, ON GETTING THINGS OUT TO PEOPLE IS ALWAYS ABOUT MAKING SURE THE MOST PEOPLE RECEIVE THE MOST BENEFITS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> HE'S COMMISSIONER OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, ROBERT ASARO-ANGLO, APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON WITH US AND TAKING THESE QUESTIONS.

>> THANKS, DAVID.

THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO.

>> THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.

LET'S SWITCH GEARS NOW AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE REASON WE'RE EVEN HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS.

IT'S THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

WE'LL START WITH AN UPDATE ON THINGS IN GENERAL AND THEN TALK ABOUT COVID AND PREGNANT MOMS.

OUR PANEL, STEPHANIE SILVERA IS AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST AND PROFESSOR WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY.

DR. CONTRERAS IS THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR AND OB/GYN IN WOMEN'S HEALTH AT ATLANTIC HEALTH SYSTEM, AND RAVEN SANTANA IS CORRESPONDENT WITH NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

LADIES, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

LET'S START WITH YOU, STEPHANIE.

IN THE PAST SIX WEEKS, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SAYS THE NUMBER OF NEW CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS GLOBAL LY HAS DROPPE BY ALMOST HALF, ABOUT 5 MILLION THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY TO ABOUT 2.7 MILLION LAST WEEK.

IS THERE SOMETHING HAPPENING?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE'RE FINALLY ON THE DOWNSIDE OF THE CURVE THAT WE SAW THE INCREASE FROM THE HOLIDAYS IN PART, AT LEAST IN THE U.S., BUT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE VACCINATIONS AND VACCINE PROGRAMS REALLY START TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THE U.S. AND GLOBALLY.

I ALSO THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE NOW A YEAR INTO IT AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO REALLY TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

WE'VE SEEN NATIONAL CHANGE IN OUR LEADERSHIP AND HOW THIS PANDEMIC IS ACTUALLY BEING DISCUSSED.

I THINK THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

>> SO, WE'RE HEARING A LOT ABOUT VARIANTS NOW, OF COURSE.

AND HOW THEY'LL TEST THE EFFICACY OF THESE VACCINES AND THESE TREATMENTS.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE VARIANTS?

>> SO, WE KNOW THAT THE VARIANTS INCREASE TRANMISSBILITY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 30% AND 70% BASED ON THE DATA THAT WE HAVE.

MOST OF THAT DATA DOES COME FROM INTERNATIONAL SURVEILLANCE, THE UNITED STATES DOES RELATIVELY LITTLE SURVEILLANCE ON THE VARIANTS.

RIGHT NOW, THE VARIANTS DON'T SEEM TO INCREASE THE SEVERITY OR THE LIKELIHOOD OF DYING, BUT ANY INCREASE IN THE NUMBERS IS GOING TO MEAN MORE DEATHS.

>> SO WE'RE ABOUT TO, IF WE HAVEN'T ALREADY, ENTER A NEW COVID BABY BOOM, I THINK.

I KNOW THREE EXPECTANT MOMS PERSONALLY, INCLUDING NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS CORRESPONDENT RAVEN SANTANA, WHO HAS DONE SOME REPORTING ON THIS ISSUE.

RAVEN, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

YOU HAD A PIECE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT EXPECTANT MOMS AND VACCINES.

YOU LOOK FANTASTIC, BY THE WAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM PARENTS?

>> SO, DAVID, YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE AFTER COVERING THIS, A LOT OF PREGNANT WOMEN WANT TO WALK AWAY WITH A RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWER AND WHAT I LEARNED JUST FROM SPEAKING TO SO MANY EXPERTS IS THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWER.

AND IT'S REALLY UP TO THE WOMAN TO MAKE THAT DECISION, BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

I MEAN, WOMEN ARE FACED WITH SO MANY OBSTACLES.

I MEAN, THE CDC IS KIND OF ADVISING THAT YOU MAKE THAT DECISION.

AND THAT'S KIND OF THE HARDEST PART OF ALL THIS IS THAT THAT DECISION IS UP TO ME.

SO, WHETHER THAT'S RIGHT OR WRONG, THAT KIND OF WEIGHS ON ME AND MY UNBORN CHILD.

SO -- >> YEAH, YOU -- >> IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT AND I REALLY FEEL FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING MYSELF, WHO HAS TO MAKE THIS DECISION.

>> YEAH, YOU SAID THIS IS A QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE HAD TO GRAPPLE WITH.

WHAT IS THAT LIKE, AND HAVE YOU MADE A DECISION ON VACCINATING?

>> YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY, FOR ME, I HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO GET THE VACCINE.

I JUST FEEL LIKE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DATA.

THAT'S MY PERSONAL CHOICE.

I JUST THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WOMEN SHOULD FEEL EMPOWERED TO MAKE A DECISION AND FEEL, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTED BY THAT.

I THINK SO MANY TIMES WOMEN EITHER ARE IN THESE SITUATIONS WHERE THEY MAY ENTER A DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND A DOCTOR MAY SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF SILLY, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING TO PROVE THAT ANYTHING WOULD GO WRONG, AND YOU KIND OF FEEL THIS PRESSURE TO GET THE VACCINE OR VICE VERSA WHERE SOMEONE WOULD SAY, OH, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE VACCINE FOR YOUR UNBORN BABY?

SO, IT'S JUST SO TOUGH FOR WOMEN TO MAKE THIS DECISION.

I JUST -- LIKE I SAID, PERSONALLY, FOR ME, I DECIDED NOT THE GET THE VACCINE, BUT THAT'S MY CHOICE, AND I'M CONFIDENT ABOUT THAT, AND I'M LUCKY THAT I DO HAVE THE SUPPORT TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

>> ALL RIGHT, DR. CONTRERAS, THE CDC DOESN'T GIVE GUIDANCE EITHER WAY.

IT SAYS, SEE YOUR DOCTOR.

WHAT'S THE ADVICE THAT YOU GIVE TO EXPECTANT MOMS?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A DIFFICULT -- IT'S A REALLY DIFFICULT SITUATION, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG IN THIS SITUATION.

BUT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT MEAGAN WAS TALKING ABOUT AND I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

THERE WAS A PAPER THAT CAME OUT TODAY, PUBLISHED IN THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OB/GYN, WHERE THEY TALKED ABOUT, IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, WOMEN WHO ACTUALLY GOT PREGNANT AND HAD COVID AND THE RISK WAS 70% HIGHER FOR PREGNANT WOMEN TO HAVE GOTTEN COVID THAN THE SAME AGE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.

AND SO, THE CONCERN IS DO PREGNANT WOMEN HAVE A HIGHER RISK OF GETTING IT?

THEN WE DO KNOW THAT ONCE THEY DO GET IT, THEY HAVE MORE -- THEY CAN HAVE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE SYMPTOMATIC, HAVE MORE SEVERE SYMPTOMS.

AND I CAN PUT BOTH THEM AND THEIR BABY AT HIGHER RISK FOR BAD OUTCOMES.

AND SO, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE WEIGH THAT WHEN WE MAKE THAT DECISION, AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS REALLY A DIFFICULT DECISION FOR WOMEN TO MAKE BECAUSE NOBODY CAN MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THEM, AND I THINK THE WORD EMPOWER IS THE WORD I REALLY BELIEVE IN.

WE HAVE TO EMPOWER WOMEN TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS.

THERE WAS ALSO A PAPER RECENTLY THAT SHOWED THAT PEOPLE WERE OBJECTING TO WOMEN WHO WANTED TO GET THE VACCINE AND NOT GIVING IT TO THEM.

AND THAT'S WRONG.

I THINK WE HAVE TO SUPPORT WOMEN THAT WHATEVER THE DECISION THEY MAKE, THAT'S THE ONE THAT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT.

AND I THINK AS SOON AS WE CAN GET THE INFORMATION OUT, WE NEED TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT, AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INFORMATION IS VALID.

THERE ARE A LOT OF RUMORS AND PEOPLE GOING TO THE SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THEIR INFORMATION, AND THEY REALLY NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE WE GET FALSE REPORTS.

WE HAD A LOT OF OPINIONS AS OPPOSED TO REALLY GOING TO THE RIGHT SOURCES, WHICH I WOULD RECOMMEND THE CDC AND THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF HOOB/GYN'S WEBSITE.

>> CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PASSIVE IMMUNITY FOR BABIES AND WHAT THAT MEANS EXACTLY?

>> SO, WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT MOMS WHO HAVE HAD COVID, THEY HAVE PASSED THE ANTIBODIES ON TO THEIR BABIES, SO IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN PROTECTIVE.

AND WE WOULD ANTICIPATE THE SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN IF MOMS WERE TO HAVE THE VACCINE.

SO THAT THEY COULD THEN PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN.

WE DO KNOW THAT BABIES WHO ARE BORN TO MOTHERS WHO HAVE COVID DON'T -- AREN'T BORN WITH COVID.

THEY'RE BORN WITH ANTIBODIES TO IT SO THEY ARE PROTECTED FROM IT.

>> THAT COULD BE AN ARGUMENT FOR INOCULATION.

>> THERE'S -- THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT ARGUMENTS FOR INOCULATION.

YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT I THINK WE HAVE TO ALWAYS REMEMBER IS THAT IF MOM DOES WELL, BABIES DO WELL.

IF MOM GETS SICK, BABIES CAN GET SICK.

SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT PROTECTING MOM, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS COMES DOWN TO AND I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY IT'S REALLY ABOUT A RISK-BENEFIT RATIO THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO GO THROUGH AND DECIDE, IS THIS SOMETHING THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE AND WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.

BUT IN ALL OF OB/GYN, IT'S REALLY ABOUT MAKING SURE MOMS ARE DOING WELL.

BECAUSE MOMS GET SICK, BABIES GET VERY SICK.

>> RAIVEN, THIS IS YOUR SECOND CHILD.

YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING TO HAVE A LOT OF FAMILY SUPPORT.

I IMAGINE YOU'RE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHO GETS CLOSE TO THE BABY, YEAH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I MEAN, YOU KNOW, TO HER POINT, I THINK THAT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS A LOT OF WOMEN NEED TO ASK IS YOUR EXPOSURE LEVEL.

YOU KNOW, ARE YOU A FRONTLINE WORKER?

ARE YOU SOMEONE WHO'S IN CLOSE QUARTERS WITH STRANGERS OR ARE YOU NOT?

THANKFULLY, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A SAFE BUBBLE.

I AM ALSO IN THE ELEMENTS, I HAVE TO SAY, REPORTING.

THERE'S BEEN MANY TIMES I'M OUT.

THANKFULLY, I DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, SAFETY MEASURES THAT I TAKE WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING MIC.

I DRIVE SEPARATELY FROM MY CAMERAMAN.

SO, I AM LUCKY IN THAT WAY, BUT GI AGAIN, I AM VERY CAREFUL AND AS I GET CLOSER TO MY DUE DATE, I MAY TRY TO QUARANTINE.

THE LAST THING I WANT IS TO COME IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO MAY HAVE IT AND THEN SPREAD IT TO ME AND THEN, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY MY BABY.

>> ALL RIGHT, CONTINUED GOOD HEALTH TO YOU, MY FRIEND.

STANDARD PRECAUTIONS ALL AROUND FOR MOMS, SOON-TO-BE MOMS AND EVERYONE ELSE.

THERE IS A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD THAT'S JUST AHEAD OF US, FOLKS.

THAT'S "CHAT BOX" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS TO OUR PANEL, STEPHANIE, DIANA, AND RAVEN SANTANA.

AND OF COURSE, LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER ROBERT ASARO-ANGELO.

I'M OFF NEXT WEEK.

BREONNA IS GOING TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER, ACC TWITTER, @DAVIDCRUZNJ AND BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

I'M DAVID CRUZ FOR THE ENTIRE CREW OVER HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

THE FUEL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY, THE NATIONAL OIL HEAT RESEARCH ALLIANCE AND BIOHEAT, THE EVOLUTION OF OIL HEAT.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ, A POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE NETWORK DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS.

INSIDER NJ IS COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS POLITICAL PLAYERS AN INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION, AND INSIGHT.

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