New Jersey municipal governments ordering workers to load into trucks less than 6 feet apart to collect nonessential items like leaves
I live in Gloucester County NJ. And although our numbers aren't as steep as in the northern counties, our covid cases are climbing at an astronomical rate. Many of the politicians in our towns are catering to voters who are "bored" and are requesting municipal workers to collect curbside items besides trash, as was ordered by the Governor. They are told to pick up bulk items, yard waste, leaves, wood, etc. We've all been informed by several sources that Sars Cov 2 can live up to 3 to 4 days on metal and plastic surfaces.. In order to pick up these items, the workers have no other choice than to sit closer than the 6 foot requirement, and many are ordered to do so without protective PPE. None of them are informed as to which waste items belong to infected individuals, yet they are told to pick it up and dispose of it- regardless of the health risk. Our own Emergency Management is stepping over the toes of our Health Department to appease the politicians and voters. I guess they have no concern for the health of the blue collar labor force and their families. If you could help investigate and run a story, that would be very helpful to them, and also to try to help mitigate the mess we have going on in NJ because Emergency Management and the Political machine has taken the reins from the scientists and health specialists at the county and municipal levels.