>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD, RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND THE OCEAN WING PROJECT AND PS E.G., COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW, LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE, CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS "NJ SPORTLIGHT NEWS" WITH BRIAND OF ANESI.

>> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT .

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER IN FOR BREANNA VAN OZZIE.

THERE HAS BEEN A MASSIVE SPIKE IN POSITIVE COVID CASES DURING THE PAST WEEK DUE TO THE OMICRON VARIANT.

THE STATE'S SEVEN DAY AVERAGE HAS CLIMBED TO MORE THAN 12,000 A DAY, A RECORD FOR THIS PANDEMIC.

AS TESTING INCREASED AHEAD OF HOLIDAY GATHERINGS, CHRISTMAS DAY SAW THE STATE'S HIGHEST EVER ONE DAY TOTAL WITH MORE THAN 16,600 CASES REPORTED.

TODAY, ANOTHER 8800 CASES AND NINE MORE DEATHS.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST MORE TESTING LEADING TO HIGHER NUMBERS.

OMICRON IS ALSO SPREADING QUICKLY.

A RECENT POSITIVITY RATE FOR LAST WEEK SHOWED 1 IN 5 RESIDENTS GETTING TESTED WAS POSITIVE.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE NOW AT THEIR HIGHEST POINT IN 10 MONTHS, WITH MORE THAN 2600 PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED.

>>> EARLIER, PRESIDENT BIDEN MET WITH SEVERAL GOVERNORS INCLUDING GOVERNOR MURPHY, TO ASSURE THE STATES THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS STANDING BY TO HELP, AND LATE TODAY IT WAS ANNOUNCED THE CDC WILL ESTABLISH A SURGE TESTING SITE IN NEW JERSEY.

A LOCATION HASN'T BEEN MADE PUBLIC YET, NOR HAS A TIMELINE FOR OPENING THE SITE.

JOANNA GAGIS LOOKS AT ALL THE LATEST COVID-19 DEVELOPMENTS.

>> ALL IS WELL IN NEW JERSEY I ASSUME, GO.

>> ALL IS WELL IF YOU DISREGARD THE RECORD NUMBER COVID CASES HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

CHRISTMAS DAY SAW MORE THAN 16,600 POSITIVE CASES REPORTED.

THAT'S TRIPLE LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS.

BUT IN SPITE OF THE SPREAD, IT'S NOT ALL BAD NEWS, SAYS KERRY HOW HE DOES.

>> WHAT WE ARE SEEING WITH OMICRON IS AN INCREASING NUMBER OF POSITIVE TEST RESULTS.

NOT ACCOMPANIED NECESSARILY BY INCREASE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS.

>> Reporter: IN OTHER WORDS, GIVEN JUST HOW TRANSMISSIBLE THIS VIRUS IS, A LESSER PERCENTAGE ARE ENDING UP IN THE HOSPITAL.

BUT WITH JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY REPORTING THAT THE U.S. IS AVERAGING CLOSE TO 200,000 NEW CASES EACH DAY, NEW JERSEY'S HEALTH COMMISSIONER, JUDY PERSICO, SAID THE STATE IS ON PACE TO EXCEED 3500 HOSPITALIZATIONS BY MID- JANUARY.

>> THE PATIENTS WE HAVE IN THE ICU TODAY ARE UNVACCINATED, AND THESE ARE ALSO THE PATIENTS IF ANYBODY IS GOING TO END UP ON A VENTILATOR, IT IS TYPICALLY THE UNVACCINATED PATIENT.

>> WE ARE HEARING WE ARE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE PEAK OF THIS SURGE.

ARE YOU CONCERNED FOR CAPACITY WITHIN YOUR HOSPITAL?

>> I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE TODAY WE HAVE 59 PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL.

WE REALLY HAVEN'T HAD THAT KIND OF VOLUME IN GREATER THAN A YEAR.

SO WHILE I'M NOT CONCERNED THAT THESE ARE GOING TO END UP BEING THE INTUBATED PATIENTS WHO MAY DIE, I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS PUTTING A STRESS ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE IN THE HOSPITAL.

>> Reporter: THIS LATEST OMICRON SURGE HAS SEEN SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER NUMBERS OF KIDS INFECTED, AS WELL, SAYS DR. SUNANDA GORE.

>> MOST CHILDREN ARE STILL SHOWING MILD SYMPTOMS, ALTHOUGH WE ARE SOMEWHAT STARTING TO SEE INCREASES IN HOSPITALIZATION IN CHILDREN AS WELL.

>> Reporter: HEALTHCARE EXPERTS ANTICIPATE EVEN HIGHER SPIKES COMING OFF THE HOLIDAY WEEK.

TODAY, NEWARK MAYOR ROSS BARAKA SIGNED AN ORDER REQUIRING PROOF OF VACCINATION FOR PUBLIC NEW YEAR'S EVENTS THIS WEEKEND, AND FOR MOST INDOOR LOCATIONS STARTING JANUARY 10th.

AND SOME SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE ALREADY ANNOUNCED CLOSURES UNTIL MID-JANUARY.

OTHERS ARE REQUIRING TESTING FOR ALL STAFF BEFORE THEY RETURN.

>> SCHOOLS NEED TO CONTINUE TO USE ALL THE PRECAUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE.

I THINK IF TESTING CAN BE PART OF THE PLAN, TO THE EXTENT IT CAN BE, IT WOULD REALLY BE HELPFUL.

>> Reporter: BUT TESTING HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE NATIONWIDE, WITH TESTING LINES IN THIS REGION LASTING AS LONG AS 4 TO 7 HOURS OVER THIS PAST WEEK.

IT'S A PROBLEM PRESIDENT BIDEN ACKNOWLEDGED ON A CALL WITH THE GOVERNORS TODAY.

>> SEE HOW TOUGH IT WAS FOR SOME FOLKS TO GET A TEST THIS WEEKEND SHOWS THAT WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO.

WE ARE DOING IT.

>> WE ARE TESTING APPROXIMATELY 100 PATIENTS A DAY, A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, AND NOW WE'RE UP NEAR 500 PATIENTS PER DAY.

>> SHE'S NOT CONCERNED ABOUT TESTING CAPACITY, BUT SHE IS WORRIED ABOUT THE SPIKES IMPACTING THEIR OVERALL STAFFING CAPACITY.

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE ABLE TO COVER ALL OF THE UNITS AND MANAGE, BUT IT IS A CONCERN, AS THE POSITIVITY RATE GOES.

>> Reporter: STAFFING CHALLENGES BROUGHT ON BY COVID LED TO MAJOR DISRUPTIONS IN HOLIDAY TRAVEL, WITH NEARLY 8000 FLIGHTS BEING CANCELED BETWEEN DECEMBER 24th AND 26, ACCORDING TO FLIGHT AWARE, AND AS THE CASES CONTINUE TO MULTIPLY, THE ADVICE FROM HEALTHCARE EXPERTS REMAINS THE SAME -- VACCINATE, VACCINATE, VACCINATE.

>> PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS SENSE THAT ONCE YOU GET INFECTED YOU WILL BE IMMUNE, BUT WE KNOW FOR OMICRON WE ARE SEEING THAT RE- INFECTIONS AMONG PEOPLE WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY INFECTED HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN SOUTH AFRICA AS WELL AS THE UK, SO WE KNOW THAT THIS IMMUNITY IS NOT AS STRONG AS WHAT WE SEE WITH VACCINATIONS.

>> THE VACCINE YOU KNOW IS NOT 100% FOOLPROOF THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE DISEASE, BUT WHAT IT DOES IS PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING TO THAT END-OF- LIFE PLACE, WHERE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE.

>> Reporter: BUT THAT'S STILL TOO MANY HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES IN, EVEN WITH THE SEEMINGLY MILDER VARIANT.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

>> FOR MORE ON THE RAPID SPREAD OF THE OMICRON VARIANT, I SAT DOWN WITH DR. EDDIE GRIFFIN IT'S, A FORMER STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST WHO ADVISED THE STATE ON ITS PANDEMIC RESPONSE.

>> DR., WE ARE RELEASING THIS OMICRON VARIANT SPREADING MUCH FASTER THAN ANY OTHER VARIANT WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.

IS THAT WHAT'S DRIVING CASELOADS SO MUCH HIGHER IN NEW JERSEY?

>> I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE HIGH CASELOAD.

WE ARE SEEING THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SURGE OF CASES OF COVID-19 INFECTION , BY ALL MEASURES, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE ARE HAVING AN EPIDEMIC WITHIN A PANDEMIC.

AND CERTAINLY, FROM THE CDC'S PERSPECTIVE, ALMOST 3/4 OF THE REPORTED CASES ARE DUE TO OMICRON.

WITHIN NEW JERSEY, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE KINDS OF NUMBERS, AND CERTAINLY DELTA IS STILL CONTRIBUTING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DISEASE, AND THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE FOR THE UNVACCINATED POPULATION.

>> WOULD YOU EXPECT CASES TO GO MUCH HIGHER FROM HERE?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, AND YES, IT'S VERY POSSIBLE IT WILL GO HIGHER, OVER THE LAST 5 OR 6 DAYS WE'VE SEEN OVER 10,000 CASES A DAY.

WE'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT PREVIOUSLY IN NEW JERSEY, AND THE COUNTRY IS SEEING ABOUT 100 A.D.-PLUS THOUSAND CASES A DAY, ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN WE'VE HAD FOR MANY, MANY MONTHS.

WE ARE NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND FAMILIES ARE STILL GETTING TOGETHER.

USUALLY BEGIN TO SEE AN INCREASE IN CASES SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE END OF THE HOLIDAY PERIOD.

THAT'S BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST, AND THEN HOSPITALIZATIONS, TRACK THAT AS WELL, BUT IT LAGS USUALLY BY A NUMBER OF DAYS AFTER INFECTIONS PEAK, AND THEN FOLLOWING HOSPITALIZATIONS, WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DEATHS AS WELL.

>> SO HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE HITTING A 10 MONTH HIGH.

HOW CONCERNING IS THIS RIGHT NOW FOR THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY?

>> IT'S VERY CONCERNING, NOT JUST IN NEW JERSEY, IT NATIONALLY.

THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY IN THE ACUTE CARE SETTING, HAVE BEEN VERY STRESSED.

THEIR PERSONNEL ARE STRESSED BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN WORKING NONSTOP FOR THE LAST ALMOST 2 YEARS.

A NUMBER OF THEM HAVE LEFT THE INDUSTRY, SO THERE ARE STAFFING SHORTAGES BECAUSE OF THAT.

THERE IS ALSO THE FACT THAT HOSPITAL WORKERS ARE ALSO GETTING SICK, EVEN THOUGH HOSPITALIZED VACCINATION RATES AMONG THOSE ARE CLOSE TO 100%, MAYBE NOT QUITE THERE BUT VERY CLOSE IN NEW JERSEY.

BUT THE BENEFIT OF THE VACCINE IS WANING SOMEWHAT, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT GOTTEN THEIR BOOSTER SHOTS, SO THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS ARE BEING STRESSED, BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY WERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> SO THAT IS ONE POSITIVE, I GUESS.

YOU MENTIONED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED AND STILL GETTING SICK.

WHAT OTHER PRECAUTIONS DO PEOPLE HAVE TO TAKE IN THEIR DAILY LIVES BEYOND GETTING VACCINATED AND BOOSTED?

IT'S STILL HARD TO PROTECT YOURSELF, IN SOME CASES.

>> I WANT TO STRESS THAT IT'S MAINLY THE UNVACCINATED OR PARTIALLY VACCINATED WHO ARE GETTING SICK AND BEING HOSPITALIZED.

THOSE WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED AND THOSE WHO HAVE GOTTEN A BOOSTER DOSE ARE FAR LESS LIKELY TO HAVE A DISEASE AND CERTAINLY TO BE HOSPITALIZED AND HAVE SEVERE DISEASE WHERE IT WILL REQUIRE AN ICU AND ACTUALLY DIE IN.

SO REALLY, GETTING VACCINATED IS REALLY THE NUMBER ONE APPROACH TO PREVENTING THE INCIDENCE OF DISEASE AND PREVENTING SEVERITY OF DISEASE AS WELL.

>> DR., THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>>> NEW JERSEY HAS AGREED TO PAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE FAMILIES OF RESIDENTS OF STATE RUN VETERANS HOMES WHO DIED FROM COVID-19 DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE SETTLEMENT DOES NOT INCLUDE AN ADMISSION OF GUILT FROM THE STATE, BUT AS SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUISE REPORTS, REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS SAY THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY DECISIONS DIRECTLY LED TO THE DEADLY COVID OUTBREAKS AT VETERANS HOMES.

>> IT WAS EASY TO MISS THE SETTLEMENT DETAILS, RELEASED AS THEY WERE ON THE AFTERNOON BEFORE THE HOLIDAY, AND WITH THE GOVERNOR OUT OF THE COUNTRY, WAS STILL BIG NEWS NONETHELESS.

THE STATE SETTLING FOR $53 MILLION WITH 119 FAMILIES OF VETERANS HOME RESIDENTS WHO SUED AFTER THEIR LOVED ONES DIED IN THE EARLIEST DAYS OF THE COVID CRISIS.

>> I AM ONE WHO HAS BEEN DEEPLY HURT AND MORNING, BECAUSE I HAVE LOST MORE FRIENDS AND FELLOW RESIDENTS DURING THIS PAST YEAR THAN I EVER DID DURING MY MILITARY SERVICE.

THESE DEATHS SHOULD'VE BEEN AVOIDED.

>> Reporter: GLENN OSBORNE IS ONE OF THE LUCKY, THE MARINE CORPS VETERAN TESTIFIED BEFORE A REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE HEARING LAST MARCH THAT HE WATCHED AS FELLOW RESIDENTS DIED IN THE CHAOS OF THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC, WHEN A FEDERAL REPORT FOUND STAFF AT THE FACILITIES ALLOWED COVID POSITIVE RESIDENTS TO MINGLE WITH THOSE WHO WEREN'T SICK, AND THAT THEY FAILED TO WEAR PROTECTIVE GEAR BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD THE MASKS WOULD SCARE RESIDENTS.

REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN VERY CRITICAL OF THE STATE'S RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS, AND BLAMED GOVERNOR MURPHY FOR THE DEATHS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS.

>> WHAT HAPPENED IS INITIALLY THE GOVERNOR WAS BLAMING THIS ALL ON DEMAND AT THE HOME.

IF YOU NEEDED HELP, YOU SHOULD'VE CALLED US.

WELL, THEY FORGOT TO GIVE THEMSELVES THE MEMO.

I'LL TELL YOU HOW BAD IT WAS, SO BAD THAT THEY FOUND OUT THAT EIGHT ADMINISTRATORS IN THOSE NURSING HOMES RECEIVED HAZARD PAY THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE GOT.

>> Reporter: THE SETTLEMENT DOES NOT INCLUDE AN ADMISSION OF GUILT FROM THE STATE, BUT IN THE WAKE OF THE SCANDAL, THE ADMINISTRATION DID SHAKE UP THE LEADERSHIP AT THE VETERANS HOMES AND INSTITUTED NEW POLICIES ON ADMINISTRATORS, STAFFING, REPORTING TO THE STATE AND FAMILIES, AND VACCINATING RESIDENTS.

>> I THINK THE BIG TAKE AWAY, DAVID, IS THAT THESE VETERANS WERE GIVEN A VOICE THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THROUGH OBVIOUSLY THEIR RELATIVES THAT WERE COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO BRING FORWARD THE CLAIMS, AND YOU KNOW THAT GOING FORWARD, GOD WILLING, THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MY CLIENTS TAKE SOLACE IN, IS THAT THROUGH THE ATTENTION, THROUGH THE MEDIA, AND THE FOCUS THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS GIVEN THESE CLAIMS OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THE VETERAN HOMES, THAT GOD WILLING IN THE FUTURE, WE WON'T HAVE A REHASHING OF THIS EVER AGAIN.

>> Reporter: THE GOVERNOR IS ON VACATION UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH, BUT HE HAS SAID A FULL POST CRISIS INVESTIGATION FOR BOTH THE PRIVATE AND PUBLICLY RUN FACILITIES IS WARRANTED, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE CRISIS IS OVER.

>> WE ARE THE ONLY STATE IN THE COUNTRY THAT'S BEEN INVESTIGATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS DONE TO THESE VETERANS IN NURSING HOMES.

AS FAR AS THE LEGISLATURE, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WE HAD ZERO OVERSIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO PANDEMIC RESPONSE, ESPECIALLY 10,000 THAT WERE KILLED, POTENTIALLY ENCOURAGED MAYBE BY SOME OF THIS PUBLIC POLICY THAT WAS HAPPENING.

>> I THINK THIS DOES ALSO SEND A MESSAGE TO PRIVATE NURSING HOME OPERATORS THAT YOU CAN'T PUT PROFITS OVER PATIENT SAFETY AND THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO GO TO THESE HOMES DESERVE THAT THE TRUST THAT THE FAMILIES GIVE TO THESE OPERATORS ARE NOT BETRAYED.

>> IT'S NOT CLEAR YET WHEN PRIVATE OPERATORS WILL HAVE TO FACE ANY LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS FOR THE EVENTS OF THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, BUT WITH THOUSANDS OF POTENTIAL LITIGANTS THERE, THAT RECKONING PROMISES TO BE SIGNIFICANT.

I'M DAVID CRUISE, "NJ SPORTLIGHT NEWS".

>> SCARLET KNIGHTS FANS NOW MUST COMPLY WITH A NEW RUTGERS UNIVERSITY VACCINATION POLICY IF THEY WANT TO ATTEND INDOOR ATHLETIC EVENTS.

FANS HAVE TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION OR PRESENT A NEGATIVE COVID-19 PCR TEST TAKEN WITHIN 72 HOURS OF THE EVENT, ALONG WITH A PHOTO I.D.

IN ADDITION, FACEMASKS CONTINUE TO BE REQUIRED AND MUST BE WORN DURING THE DURATION OF EACH SPORTING EVENT.

FANS WHO DON'T WEAR THEIR MASKS WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE.

THE NEW POLICY COMES AS THE UNIVERSITY IS ASSESSING ITS PLANS FOR ITS SPRING SEMESTER.

AS OF NOW, MOST OF THE COURSE SCHEDULE IS MADE UP OF IN- PERSON CLASSES, BUT UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS SAY THAT COULD CHANGE AS THE NUMBER OF CORONAVIRUS CASES CONTINUES TO RISE.

A RUTGERS SPOKESMAN SAYS THE UNIVERSITY WILL ANNOUNCE ANY CHANGES TO THE SPRING SEMESTER EARLY NEXT MONTH.

>>> ROBERT MENENDEZ JUNIOR IS GAINING SUPPORT FOR A RUN FOR A SEAT IN CONGRESS.

THE U.S.

SENATOR'S SON IS AIMING TO TAKE OVER FOR RETIRING REPRESENTATIVE ALBEE AZERIS IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT, A SEAT ONCE HELD BY HIS FATHER.

THIS WILL BE THE YOUNGER MENENDEZ'S FIRST RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, AND HE IS EXPECTED TO FACE CHALLENGES IN THE DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLD THAT INCLUDES HEAVILY URBAN PARTS OF HUDSON, ESSEX, AND UNION COUNTIES.

ALREADY, HE HAS PICKED UP ENDORSEMENTS FROM GOVERNOR MURPHY, SENATOR BOOKER, HUDSON COUNTY EXECUTIVE TOM THE CHEESE, AND ABOUT A DOZEN MAYORS IN THE DISTRICT.

>>> INTERNET'S SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS, A RISE IN COVID CASES DID NOT DETER SHOPPERS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

RETAIL SALES JUMPED 8.5% THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST, ACCORDING TO MASTERCARD SPENDING PULSE.

e-COMMERCE SALES JUMPED 11%, BUT 20 OF PEOPLE DECIDED TO SHOP IN PERSON.

SALES OF BRICK AND MORTAR STORES WERE UP MORE THAN EIGHT PERCENT.

THE REPORT FROM MASTERCARD TRACKED SALES FROM NOVEMBER 1st THROUGH DECEMBER 24th.

>>> NOW WE TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY'S CLOSING NUMBERS FROM WALL STREET.

>> FOOD BANKS AROUND THE STATE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE NEW JERSEYANS LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE.

HUNDREDS OF HUNGRY PEOPLE ARE WAITING IN LINES TO COLLECT BAGS OF FOOD.

I SPOKE WITH NJ SPOTLIGHT'S JON HURDLE ABOUT WHY MORE AND MORE RESIDENTS CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO FEED THEMSELVES.

>> JOHN, WHAT ARE FOOD BANKS SEEING RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE WHO NEED ASSISTANCE?

>> THERE MAXINE CONTINUED HIGH DEMAND.

THEIR DEMAND FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE HAS ALMOST DOUBLED SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, AND THE DEMAND FOR ASSISTANCE IS ACTUALLY CONTINUING AT QUITE A HIGH LEVEL.

ONE OF THE CURRENT CONCERNS IS THAT THERE'S BEEN A SHARP INCREASE IN FOOD PRICES, AND THAT MEANS THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD THE PRICES THAT THEY'RE GETTING IN THE SUPERMARKETS, AND THEY'RE TURNING TO FOOD BANKS AND FOOD PANTRIES FOR HELP.

AND THE OTHER CONCERN -- ANOTHER CONCERN AT THE MOMENT IS THAT WITH THE RECENT BIG SURGE IN COVID CASES, THE CONCERN IS THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE -- THAT MORE BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO BE SHUTTING DOWN, AND THAT OF COURSE IS GOING TO CUT INTO PEOPLE'S INCOMES.

>> YOU TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO RELY ON FOOD PANTRIES.

WHAT DID THEY TELL YOU ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL SITUATIONS?

>> I SPOKE WITH ONE GENTLEMAN WHO WAS STANDING IN A LINE OUTSIDE A NEWARK FOOD PANTRY A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

HE SAID THAT HE GOES THERE ABOUT FIVE TIMES A MONTH AND HE FILLS UP HIS SHOPPING CART WITH A FULL RANGE OF GROCERIES THAT HE'S ALLOWED TO TAKE WITH HIM.

AND HE SAID THAT HE'S ESSENTIALLY DEPENDENT ON FOOD ASSISTANCE FROM THAT SOURCE.

>> SO BASED ON WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS NOT AN EXPECTATION THAT THERE WILL BE ANY LETUP TO DEMAND NEXT YEAR.

IN FACT, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE EVEN MORE DEMAND FROM THE LEVELS WE ARE SEEING NOW.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THE FOOD BANKS IN NEW JERSEY HAVE BEEN PREDICTING FOR SOME MONTHS NOW THAT THAT DEMAND IS GOING TO STAY VERY HIGH, EVEN IF THE PANDEMIC RECEIVES AND UNEMPLOYMENT CONTINUES TO FALL.

THEIR CONCERN IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BUILT UP A SIGNIFICANT PERSONAL DEBT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

MANY OF THEM ARE FACED WITH RENTAL AND/OR MORTGAGE ARREARS, AND THAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT HARD FOR THEM TO AFFORD FOOD AT REGULAR PRICES.

THE OTHER CONCERN IS THAT SOME FORMS OF ASSISTANCE THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO RENTERS DURING THE PANDEMIC ARE GOING TO COME TO AN END, ESPECIALLY FOR LOW INCOME RENTERS AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND AS PEOPLE STRUGGLE TO PAY THEIR RENT, THEY'RE GOING TO BE FORCED TO MAKE SOME CHOICES, WHICH MAY ALSO FORCE THEM TO DEPEND ON FOOD BANKS.

>> AND FOR THE FOOD BANKS THEMSELVES, AND OTHER NONPROFITS, WHAT SORT OF HELP DO THEY NEED?

DO THEY NEED MORE DONATIONS?

>> I THINK THEY DO.

I THINK THAT'S THE FIRST THING THEY WOULD SAY, IS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR MORE FINANCIAL DONATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC, AND BECAUSE OF COURSE THE FOOD BANKS ARE BEING FORCED TO BUY MORE FOOD AT HIGHER PRICES, AND OF COURSE THAT'S INCREASING THEIR EXPENSES.

>> VERY TOUGH SITUATION, JOHN.

THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>>> BIAS ATTACKS AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS INCREASED DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT THERE IS LEGISLATION NOW SITTING ON GOVERNOR MURPHY'S DESK THAT SUPPORTERS BELIEVE WOULD HELP STOP BIAS ATTACKS FROM OCCURRING, THROUGH EDUCATION.

THE BILL REQUIRES THAT NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HISTORY.

AS MELISSA ROSE COOPER REPORTS, THAT'S WELCOME NEWS FOR KIDS WHO HAVE FELT THE STING OF PREJUDICE.

>> FOR ME GROWING UP, I DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF REPRESENTATION IN THE CLASSROOM, AND I ENDED UP WITH A LOT OF, LIKE, SELF INTERNALIZED RACISM, AND I GUESS SELF-LOATHING AND IDENTITY CRISIS, BECAUSE I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE LIKE MY CLASSMATES, WHO WERE WHITE.

>> Reporter: CHRISTINA WONG'S FIRST-GENERATION AMERICAN.

BOTH HER PARENTS ARE FROM CHINA, BUT EVEN THOUGH CHRISTINA WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NEW JERSEY, THE HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR SAYS SHE HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE RACIAL INCIDENTS BECAUSE OF HER CHINESE CULTURE.

THAT'S ONLY GOTTEN WORSE SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

>> AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO ERASE THE MEMORY OF THIS UTTER LOOK OF LIKE DISCUSSED AND REPUGNANCE ON THIS ONE MAN'S FACE AS HE PULLED OFF HIS MASK AND STARTED JUST COUGHING ON ME.

IT LEFT ME VERY VIOLATED AND CONFUSED, BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL, WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT.

NOW, LOOKING BACK, IT HURT EVEN MORE BECAUSE THERE WERE PEOPLE AROUND JUST STARING AND WATCHING AS THIS GROWN MAN WAS A SICKLY HARASSING ME AND NOT DOING ANYTHING.

>> Reporter: STATE LAWMAKERS ARE HOPING THE LEGISLATION WILL HELP STOP FUTURE BIAS ATTACKS LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING.

THE LEGISLATURE RECENTLY PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO TEACH ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HISTORY TO STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12.

THE BILL, IF SIGNED, WOULD MAKE NEW JERSEY ONLY THE SECOND STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO REQUIRE THESE LESSONS, ALONG WITH ILLINOIS.

>> STOP ASIAN HATE RECEIVED 10,400 REPORTS OF HATE AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS BETWEEN MARCH 2020 AND SEPTEMBER 2021.

THAT'S JUST THE INCIDENTS THAT WERE REPORTED.

1 IN 3 PARENTS OF ASIAN- AMERICAN STUDENTS REPORTED AN INCIDENT OF HATE OR BULLYING COMMITTED AGAINST THEIR KIDS.

SO I THINK EDUCATION ALWAYS IS THE BEST TOOL TO COMBAT IGNORANCE, TO COMBAT BIASES.

>> Reporter: SEVENTH GRADER BRIAN SHOUSE STILL REMEMBERS THE FIRST TIME HE EXPERIENCED A RACIAL BIAS INCIDENT BECAUSE OF HIS AGE AND CULTURE.

>> ON THE BUS WHEN I WAS 7, PEOPLE USED THESE EYE EXPRESSIONS AND STARTED SAYING CHINESE EYES AND JAPANESE EYES, AND AS A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE WORDS MET, BECAUSE THERE WERE ALL THESE OLDER KIDS SAYING THEM AND I WAS KIND OF IMMATURE AND GULLIBLE THEN.

AND NOW THAT I'M OLDER AND MORE MATURE, I KNOW WHAT THEY MEANT THEN.

IT HURTS, LOOKING BACK.

WHEN I WAS 10, AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, I WAS IN THE BACKYARD PLAYING ON THE TRAVELING, AND A MAN SPAT AT ME.

AND I KNEW FULLY WHAT THAT MEANT AT THAT POINT, AND THAT REALLY HURT, AND THE FACT I DIDN'T SAY SOMETHING BACK IS KIND OF LIKE WHY DIDN'T I DO THAT AT THE TIME.

>> Reporter: BUT NOW, HE'S SPEAKING UP AND ALSO ADVOCATING FOR KIDS TO LEARN ABOUT ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE'S HISTORY IS BEING TAUGHT EXCEPT FOR US, SO THE ADDITION OF THIS BILL, I THINK IT WILL PROMOTE PRINCIPLES.

>> I'M A PSYCHIATRIST, SO I SEE THE LIFELONG CONSEQUENCES OF THIS TRAUMA.

I SEE HOW IT IMPACTS THEIR ABILITY TO SLEEP, THEIR ABILITY TO FEEL ALIVE, EVEN.

WE WANT OUR KIDS TO GET TO EXPERIENCE THEIR CHILDHOOD.

WE DON'T WANT THEIR CHILDHOOD TO BE ROBBED FROM THEM.

>> THE BILL NOW NEEDS TO BE SIGNED BY GOVERNOR MURPHY.

IF IT BECOMES LAW, LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL CHOOSE THE MATERIALS AND CURRICULUM, WITH GUIDANCE FROM A NEW COMMISSION ON ASIAN HERITAGE AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

FOR "NJ SPORTLIGHT NEWS", I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT HEAD OVER TO "NJ SPORTLIGHT NEWS" .ORG AND CHECK US OUT ON OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS, WHERE WE KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH THE VERY LATEST NEWS THAT IS IMPACTING THE GARDEN STATE.

I'M ROBIN SCHEFFLER.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

OR USE OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK A VIRTUAL VISIT WITH AN RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP PROVIDER OR SPECIALIST, EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT.

YOU'VE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION, AND SO HAVE WE, SO DON'T TO DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.