On April 24, 2020 the number of American deaths from Covid-19 infections surpassed 50,000 and, as the month of April draws to a close, testing has yet to ramp up to the levels experts say would give an accurate picture of the spread of the coronavirus.  A survey of infectious 21 disease modeling experts and researchers by Thomas McAndrew and Nicholas Reich at the University of Massachusetts Amherst makes for sobering reading. The experts predict the U.S. death rate to increase to approximately 70,000 by May 9, and to reach 150,000 deaths by the end of the year.

While a safe, effective vaccine is still more than a year away, researchers are rushing to repurpose existing drugs and non-drug therapies as well as testing promising experimental drugs that were already in clinical trials. More than 70 vaccine are also in development around the world, with at least five in preliminary testing in people - one in Seattle and one in China. Reuters offers a look at some of the experimental drugs, vaccines and other therapies currently in development.

In addition to the Food Bank of SJ we are very fortunate to have several local food pantries that serve community needs. The Dolores Clark Food Pantry, located at Grace Episcopal Church, operates from 12:00-2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and clients in need can drive up the church driveway, receive a pre-filled bag of groceries, and drive out of the parking lot all while keeping a safe distance. The Linda Knaus Food Pantry, located at Temple Lutheran Church - who recently received a $5,000 grant from the NJ Pandemic Relief Fund - will be distributing food bags on Tuesday, 4/14, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. NJ residency and ID are required. For more details or interested in helping please contact the church office. If you are willing and able, bags are prepared around 6:30 pm the Monday before distribution and any help is appreciated. Special thanks to the for their grant of $5,000 to our food pantry! St. Vincent dePaul Society Pantry Day, located at St. Peter R.C. Church, takes place on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m - 12:00 p.m. Trinity UMC hosts a food pantry on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. A very special thank you to all who keep this vital human service going!

Camden County's Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will be delivering approximately 25,000 pieces of assorted personal protective equipment (PPE) - including protective gowns, N-95 masks, surgical masks, protective gloves, face shields, and hand sanitizer - from its inventory to local OEMs who will then distribute directly to 18 long-term care facilities in Camden County. According to Freeholder Jon Young, last week the County Health Department took over inspections of 56 long-term care facilities from the state in order to audit and inspect operations. "One of the first things to become clear upon our initial audits was a severe shortage of PPE." 

The community shared lots of "thank-yous" on social media for the efforts of the Merchantville Police Department and Merchantville Fire Department - Niagara Fire Company in bringing the Easter Bunny around town on Saturday, April 11th to compensate for the Covid-19 cancellation of our annual Egg Hunt. As promised, on a beautiful afternoon, the EB tour visited every street in Merchantville bringing kids and parents outside - while maintaining a safe social distance - to enjoy seeing and waving to this folklore symbol of Easter as he passed their home. 

If safety comes first, cuteness definitely comes second when it comes to a few precious photos coming out of Thailand during the coronavirus pandemic. Babies born at several of the Thailand’s hospitals are sharing photos of newborns who have been fitted with special plastic face shields - mini visors - to protect them from any risk of contamination from the coronavirus. The masks are designed to stop any droplets with the virus from coughs or sneezes from reaching the baby's face. Getty images uploaded a few photos by Lillian Suwanrumpha taken at Praram 9 Hospital in Bangkok on Thursday.