COVID -19, Vaccines: What To Expect In Mercer County In 2021

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The year 2020 will forever be marked as one filled with loss, extreme difficulties and missed opportunities. While the pandemic is far from over, the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine brings hope for a better year. As we settle into 2021, here’s what we can expect:

The COVID-19 Vaccine Is Here

Mercer County has already started distributing vaccines to towns, and some like Princeton, East Windsor and Hamilton are currently vaccinating EMS workers and community health care workers. The county held it's first COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Hamilton Township on Monday.

Meanwhile, New Jersey aims to vaccinate 70 percent of the population by the first six months of the year. With that in mind, the state plans to open 200 community vaccine sites and six "megasites" in January. The six vaccine "mega-sites" are:

• Atlantic County: Atlantic City Convention Center
• Bergen County: Racetrack at Meadowlands, East Rutherford
• Burlington County: Moorestown Mall
• Gloucester County: Rowan College of South Jersey, Sewell
• Middlesex County: New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, Edison
• Morris County: Rockaway Townsquare Mall

The closest site for Mercer residents will be Moorestown Mall, Burlington County and the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, Edison. Mercer County is also planning to set up a vaccination site at Mercer County Community College.

Princeton University Students Will Be Back On Campus

Princeton University will be bringing back undergraduate students for Spring 2021. The on-campus testing laboratory has only made the process of moving back safer for students. However, there will be a number of requirements once the students decide to move back.

Masks will be mandatory as will social distancing rules. Students will be required to participate in the University's coronavirus testing program and comply with all contact tracing, quarantine, and isolation instructions.

Visitors and parties will not be allowed, and students will have to prepare for a campus-wide "lock down" for extended periods of time, if COVID-19 cases surge on campus or in the nearby community.

Driver's License Access For Undocumented Immigrants

A year ago, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a new law to expand access to driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Although the state was supposed to start providing license beginning Jan. 1, on Dec. 29 the Motor Vehicle Commission said they were delaying implementation of the law due to a large workload caused by COVID-19.

No tentative date was cited, but the hope is that licenses will start being issued soon, now that vaccine distribution has begun and the MVC is working hard to reduce the workload.

Marijuana Legalization Bill Delayed

The marijuana legalization bill has been delayed. According to a report by Politico, the Murphy administration is objecting to legislation that creates the framework for selling the drug.

During a Dec. 28 press conference Murphy said there are some "technical, but important things we're trying to wrinkle out" on the legislation. The bill needs Gov. Phil Murphy's signature to become law.

During the November elections, New Jersey voted overwhelmingly to legalize marijuana. State officials have said that it could take from 6 months to a year for the drug to be sold in stores. Delay in legislation will delay the selling of the drug.

Marijuana dispensaries and manufacturing facilities could help replace lost revenue and help struggling down towns as they recover from COVID-19.