>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH , LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT.

AND PS E.G., COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW, SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>>> ♪ FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI .

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

WE BEGIN WITH SOBERING WORDS FROM THE CDC, CLAIMING THE WAR HAS CHANGED IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

WITH INTERNAL DOCUMENTS SHOWING DELTA INFECTIONS ARE MORE CONTAGIOUS, LIKELY TO CAUSE MORE SEVERE DISEASE AND SPREAD AS EASILY AS CHICKENPOX.

THE CDC IS ALSO RELEASING WHAT IS BEING CALLED A PIVOTAL DISCOVERY ON THE HEALTH CRISIS, DATA SHOWING EVEN VACCINATED PEOPLE CAN SPREAD THIS DELTA STRAIN.

LIKELY ADDING TO THE SURGE OF INFECTIONS WE ARE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

DELTA PRODUCES SIMILAR AMOUNTS OF VIRUS IN BOTH VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED PEOPLE, BUT EXPERTS SAY BEING FULLY VACCINATED MAKES IT LESS LIKELY YOU'LL GET SICK.

GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID AT LEAST FOR NOW, HE IS NOT ESCALATING HIS DECISION TO STRONGLY RECOMMEND RATHER THAN MANDATE AND INDOOR MASK REQUIREMENT.

THE STATE REPORTS 964 NEW CASES AND SIX ADDITIONAL DEATHS.

THE GOVERNOR IS PLANNING TO CONSIDER NEXT STEPS THIS WEEKEND, RESERVING THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE RECOMMENDATION AND DIDN'T ENTIRELY DISMISS THE IDEA OF MANDATING VACCINES.

JUST SHY OF 5.3 MILLION ARE FULLY IMMUNIZED AS OF TODAY.

HEALTH EXPERTS SAY THIS GIVES EVEN MORE REASON TO GET THE SHOT BECAUSE EVEN WITH THE DELTA VARIANT CIRCULATING, VACCINATED PEOPLE ARE FAR LESS LIKELY TO END UP IN THE HOSPITAL.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT RANDE FLANAGAN HAS THE LATEST.

>> WE TOOK A VICTORY LAP AND THE RACE WAS NOT OVER.

>> Reporter: PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS EXPRESS CONCERN OVER DATA INITIALLY LEAKED FROM THE CDC SHOWING THE DELTA STRAIN IS AS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS AS CHICKENPOX AND SPREAD BETWEEN VACCINATED PEOPLE, LEADING TO FAR MORE BREAKTHROUGH CASES.

ONE PROJECTION, 35,000 INFECTIONS PER WEEK AMONG 162 MILLION FULLY VACCINATED AMERICANS.

AGENCY DIRECTOR BRIEFED CONGRESS PRIVATELY YESTERDAY, THAT DELTA CAN ALSO CAUSE MORE SEVERE ILLNESS THAN PRIOR COVID VARIANT.

STEPHANIE SILVERA CALLED THE LEAK AND UNFORCED ERROR.

>> I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT THE MEMO HAD TO BE LEAKED AND WASN'T PRESENTED, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE TRANSPARENT.

THERE IS ALREADY SO MUCH MISTRUST OF SCIENCE AND THE GOVERNMENT AND SOMETHING LIKE THIS DOESN'T HELP.

>> PUBLIC TRUST IS WAVERING, AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT THE MESSAGES WE PUT OUT.

>> Reporter: IN THE DATA RELEASED PUBLICLY, CDC SCIENTISTS RECOMMEND UNIVERSAL MASKING IS ESSENTIAL TO REDUCE TRANSMISSION OF DELTA, A BIG STEP BEYOND ITS WEDNESDAY ADVISORY THAT VACCINATED PEOPLE SHOULD WEAR MASKS INDOORS.

THE AGENCY DREW DATA FROM A POST JULY 4th COVID OUTBREAK IN PROVINCETOWN, WHERE DELTA SPREAD TO ALMOST 470 RESIDENTS, 74% OF THEM VACCINATED.

TESTS SHOWED VACCINATED FOLKS CARRIED MEASURABLY LARGE AMOUNTS OF DELTA, COMPARABLE TO INFECTED UNVACCINATED PEOPLE.

ALSO, VACCINATED PEOPLE CAN INFECT OR REINFECT EACH OTHER WITH DELTA.

SHE DID MENTION THAT WEDNESDAY.

>> WE NOW SEE IN OUR OUTBREAK INVESTIGATIONS, AND THOSE WE HAVE BEEN SEEING THAT IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS THAT YOU CAN PASS IT TO SOMEONE ELSE.

HIS >> Reporter: NEW JERSEY HAS DEMONSTRATED A SIMILAR TREND AND NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS ANALYSIS REPORTED BREAKTHROUGH CASES COST FEWER THAN 1% OF NEW INFECTIONS AND DEATHS IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS, BUT BREAKTHROUGH DROVE 70% AND 24% OF DEATHS FROM JUNE 29th THROUGH MID-JULY.

THE CDC HAS ADMITTED THE VACCINES ARE NOT PERFECT.

>> THEY WORKED QUITE WELL AT PREVENTING TRANSMISSION WITH ALPHA AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW IS THEY ARE WORKING LESS WELL IN PREVENTING DELTA.

>> VACCINATED PEOPLE CAN TRANSMIT, AND THAT IS NEW.

BUT WE STILL KNOW VACCINATED PEOPLE ARE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO GET SEVERE SYMPTOMS, SO IT STILL IMPORTANT TO GET THE VACCINE.

THAT IS WHAT WE'VE REALLY BEEN TRYING TO SHARE WITH ALL THESE COMMUNITIES.

>> Reporter: BOB ATKINS WILL KEEP REACHING OUT TO AT-RISK COMMUNITIES WITH POSITIVE VACCINE MESSAGES.

BUT THE CDC DATA SAYS VACCINES MAY NOT REMAIN AS EFFECTIVE FOR NURSING HOME RESIDENTS AND IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PEOPLE, RAISING THE POSSIBILITY OF BOOSTER SHOTS FOR CERTAIN GROUPS.

THE NEXT STEP?

ACKNOWLEDGE THE WAR HAS CHANGED.

IT'S A HUGE PIVOT IN PUBLIC MESSAGING AFTER ANNOUNCING THAT VACCINATED PEOPLE COULD LIVE MASK FREE.

>> WE HAVE DONE THE BEST WE CAN WITH OUTREACH AND WITH OFFERING ALL SORTS OF INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED.

I THINK WE ARE SHIFTING INTO THE POINT WHERE WE NEED TO START MANDATING THE VACCINE AND CONTINUING TO WEAR MASKS.

>> Reporter: EVEN WITH DELTA, THE VACCINE STILL PROTECTS WELL AGAINST HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH.

I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> HEALTHCARE UNIONS ARE DRAWING THE LINE WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINE MANDATES.

URGING MEMBERS TO GET VACCINATED BUT NOT MAKING IT A REQUIREMENT.

THE PRESIDENT OF HP AE REPRESENTING HEALTHCARE EMPLOYEES TELLS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS THE VACCINE IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE PROTECTION AGAINST GETTING COVID-19, AS MANY WORKERS WERE ON THE FRONT LINES DURING THE PANDEMIC AND BECAME SICK.

BUT U.S. LABOR LAW AFFORDS UNIONS THE RIGHT TO BARGAIN OVER A NEW WORK RULE.

MANDATES INCLUDED.

THE UNIONS HAVE TO REPRESENT EVERY MEMBER, THOSE WHO DO AND DON'T WISH TO BE VACCINATED.

IT'S A DEPARTURE FROM POLICIES BEING ROLLED OUT AT SOME OF THE STATE'S LARGEST HOSPITAL AND LONG-TERM CARE SYSTEMS, ST. JOSEPH'S HEALTH AND VALLEY HEALTH, ALONG WITH HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH EMMA RWJBARNABAS HEALTH, AND CARE ONE ARE ALL REQUIRING EMPLOYEES TO GET THE VACCINE OR FACE TERMINATION.

LOCAL LEADERS IN HOBOKEN AREN'T SHYING AWAY FROM A REQUIREMENT.

THE CITY APPEARS TO BE THE FIRST IN THE STATE ORDERING WORKERS TO GET VACCINATED OR UNDERGO WEEKLY TESTING.

SIMILAR TO THE POLICY BEING ROLLED OUT FOR NEW YORK CITY EMPLOYEES.

WORKERS WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK WHILE INTERACTING WITH THE PUBLIC AND IN INDOOR SETTINGS.

THOSE WHO DON'T COMPLY WILL BE FIRED, ACCORDING TO CITY OFFICIALS.

THE MANDATE DOESN'T APPLY TO TEACHERS OR OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES.

HOBOKEN MAYOR SAYS THE NEW RULE BECAME NECESSARY TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE FROM THE INCREASED SPREAD OF DELTA.

HE IS ALSO URGING LOCAL BUSINESSES TO ADOPT SIMILAR REQUIREMENTS FOR THEIR WORKERS.

WITH THE RISE OF THE DELTA VARIANT, MORE AND MORE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE HOSTING FREE POP- UP VACCINE CLINICS OPEN TO BOOST THE NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS WHO ARE VACCINATED BEFORE CLASSES RESUME .

DATA FROM THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SHOWS RATES LIKED FOR THE AGE GROUP AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS WARNED IT IS A CRITICAL DEFENSE AS TRANSMISSION RATES SURGE.

ESPECIALLY AS THE GOVERNOR WEIGHS WHETHER TO BRING BACK A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.

JOANNA GAGIS HAS THE STORY.

>> MY MOM HAD COVID, WE DECIDED TO GET THE VACCINE SO WE COULD BE SAFER.

A NEW PANDEMIC IS COMING, SO WE ARE TRYING TO DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: HE STOPPED BY THE THOMAS H DUDLEY SCHOOL TO GET A COVID VACCINATION FOR HIMSELF AND HIS MOM WHO RECENTLY RECOVERED FROM THE VIRUS.

THE CAMDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARTNERED WITH A LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO OFFER THE SHOTS TO ANY ELIGIBLE STUDENT AND FAMILY MEMBERS WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND TO ANYONE ELSE WHO HAPPENED TO WANDER IN.

NANCY GUERRERO SAID IT WAS A RELIEF TO SEE HER 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER GET THE SHOT.

>> IT'S GREAT THAT SHE'S GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

I DON'T HAVE THAT WORRY ABOUT HER GETTING SICK AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> THE VACCINATION RATE IS UP TO ABOUT 55% WHICH IS FANTASTIC, IN THE AREA WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE 12 TO 17-YEAR- OLDS GET VACCINATED.

WE ARE APPROACHING BACK TO SCHOOL, IT'S OUR KIDS, IT'S A POPULATION WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

>> Reporter: IT IS PROGRESS IN THE CITY OF CAMDEN BUT NOT ENOUGH TO STOP THE SPREAD OF DELTA THAT IS IMPACTING MORE AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE.

50 NEW POSITIVE CASES WERE REPORTED TODAY ACROSS THE COUNTY, THE HIGHEST SINCE MAY.

ALL THE MORE REASON TO VACCINATE STUDENTS, SAYS SUPERINTENDENT KATRINA .

>> ONE OF THE REASONS WE DECIDED TO HOST THIS EVENT AT A SCHOOL IS BECAUSE WE KNOW OUR SCHOOLS ARE ANCHORS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, OUR FAMILIES TRUST THE SCHOOLS, THEY TRUST THE STAFF MEMBERS WERE AT OUR SCHOOLS AND SO WHEN OUR NURSES REACH OUT AND CALL PARENTS AND SAY WE ARE HAVING A VACCINATION EVENT, IT GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY AS FAMILY MEMBERS TO ASK QUESTIONS OF A TRUSTED PROFESSIONAL.

>> ONE OF MY TEACHERS CALLED MY MOTHER TO COME AND GET IT, AND I AGREE.

I WAS EXCITED, I KNEW I WAS GOING TO BE HELPFUL.

>> Reporter: EVEN WITH AN EVENT THAT SAW MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE GET VACCINATED, KIDS AGE 11 AND YOUNGER WON'T BE ELIGIBLE BEFORE THE START OF THE YEAR, LEAVING DISTRICTS AND SCHOOL -- UNSURE.

>> THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, THEY HAVE COME OUT AND SAID THAT EVERYONE IN THE SCHOOL SETTING SHOULD BE MASKED.

WE WOULD HOPE THE GOVERNOR WOULD REALLY CONSIDER THAT, AND MAKE A DECISION THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

OTHERWISE I THINK THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR WILL BE VERY CONTROVERSIAL.

>> Reporter: THE NJ EA SAID THIS IS A QUICKLY DEVELOPING SITUATION BUT IF THAT IS THE GUIDANCE, WE BELIEVE SCHOOLS SHOULD FOLLOW THAT GUIDANCE.

I HOTLY CONTESTED ISSUE THAT HAS LAUNCHED THE UNMASK OUR CHILDREN CAMPAIGN.

THE GOVERNOR PLANS TO WAIT BEFORE ISSUING GUIDANCE.

HERE IN CAMDEN -- >> WE DON'T HAVE A FORMAL POLICY BUT OUR EXPECTATION AND RECOMMENDATION AND GUIDANCE IS THAT EVERYONE WHO COMES INTO OUR BUILDING MUST BE MASKED.

>> Reporter: IN THE MEANTIME, THIS SITE WILL BE OPEN AGAIN ON AUGUST 24th TO GIVE THE SECOND DOSE.

THE DISTRICT PLAN TO HAVE MORE POP UP SITES LIKE THIS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER IN AN EFFORT TO VACCINATE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE BEFORE THE START OF THE YEAR.

JOANNA GAGIS, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> HOW DOES FREE COLLEGE TUITION AS AN INCENTIVE TO GET A VACCINE SOUND?

RIDER UNIVERSITY WILL OFFER THREE STUDENTS WHO SHOW PROOF OF RECEIVING AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF THE AUTHORIZED VACCINES FREE TUITION FOR THE FALL 2021 AND SPRING 2022 SEMESTERS.

THAT INCLUDES UP TO 15 UNDERGRADUATE CREDITS PER SEMESTER, NINE FOR GRADUATES AND 12 FOR STUDENTS IN CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES.

ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSITY, THE COST FOR FULL-TIME TUITION RUNS BETWEEN 17 AND $23,000 A SEMESTER.

THE UNIVERSITY WILL RANDOMLY SELECT AND NOTIFY THE WINNING STUDENTS FROM A POOL OF ALL ELIGIBLE SUBMISSIONS ON AUGUST 5th.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO SUBMIT, AUGUST 1st IS THE DEADLINE.

>>> A CHANGING OF THE GUARD FOR STATE DEMOCRATS, LEEWARD JONES IS OFFICIALLY THE NEW CHAIR OF THE NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE, TAKING IT FROM FORMER CHAIRMAN JOHN CURRY AND EDIT CRUCIAL TIME FOR THE PARTY.

JONES LEADS THE POWERFUL ESSEX COUNTY COMMITTEE, HELPING GOVERNOR MURPHY SUCCEED AT REELECTION.

AN ONGOING PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS THAT COULD THREATEN HIS CHANCES.

JONES SPOKE ON THE RECORD WITH MICHAEL ARON.

>> LEEWARD JONES, I SAW YOU ON TELEVISION LAST WEEKEND SAYING NEW JERSEY IS A BLUE STATE AND I THOUGHT HOW IT WAS A PURPLE STATE WHEN I STARTED OUT AS A REPORTER.

HOW DO YOU GO BLUE?

>> IT WENT BLUE BECAUSE THE SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS GREAT STATE SAW FIT TO KNOW THAT DEMOCRATIC POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES SUSTAIN THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

ALONG WITH THE POLITICAL APPARATUS OF A STRONG DEMOCRATIC PARTY, JUST TAKING ELECTIONS ONE BY ONE, BLOCK BY BLOCK, MUNICIPALITY BY MUNICIPALITY AND THAT GETS YOU THE STATE.

>> HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT IT STAYS BLUE?

>> IT'S HARD WORK, MICHAEL.

WE HAVE A CANDIDATE IN PHIL MURPHY, AND IS RUNNING MATE SHEILA OLIVER THAT ARE SECOND TO NONE WHEN IT COMES TO FIGHTING ON BEHALF OF NEW JERSEY.

A DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT IS SHARPLY FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT THE ELECTION HAPPENS AND ALSO LOOKING TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND LEGISLATIVE SUCCESS IN ALL OF THE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS.

>> THE ONE WILDCARD IN THE PHIL MURPHY RACE COULD BE IF THERE IS AN OUTBREAK OF COVID-19 DURING THIS ELECTION SEASON.

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THAT AS THE ONE THING THAT COULD MOST LIKELY DERAIL YOUR CANDIDATE?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT, PHIL MURPHY HAS BEEN SECOND TO NONE ON COVID-19 RESPONSE.

FROM THE STANDPOINT OF TESTING, A ROBUST VACCINATION PROGRAM, AND HE HAS RELIED ON THE SCIENCE.

THAT IS WHAT SEPARATED HIM FROM JACK AND SO MANY OTHERS FOR THAT MATTER.

PHIL MURPHY HAS BEEN THAT WHEN HE WROTE, THAT ONE LEADER ACROSS THIS NATION WITH NO DOUBT AND WITHOUT EQUIVOCATION HAS BEEN THE GOVERNOR WHO HAS BEEN THE RESPONDER AND THE PROTECTOR OF PEOPLE.

>> I THINK THAT'S TRUE UNTIL A FEW MONTHS AGO, WHEN THE ELECTION STARTED LOOMING CLOSER AND INSTEAD OF JUST FOLLOWING THE SCIENCE, I THINK PHIL MURPHY IS FOLLOWING HIS POLITICAL INSTINCTS A LITTLE BIT.

WOULD YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S CORRECT, I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS TRYING TO GET BACK TO A STATE OF NORMALCY.

AS I SAID, 70% VACCINATION RATE GETS US NEARER TO HERD IMMUNITY.

THERE ARE FOLKS THAT NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT VACCINES ARE THE ANSWER TO FIGHTING THIS.

HE HAS NOT LOST THE INTENT TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE AND SHOW PEOPLE THAT THE SCIENCE IS THE WAY TO GO AND VACCINES IS HOW WE CONTINUE TO COMBAT COVID AND ANY OTHER VARIANT OF THIS VICIOUS VIRUS.

>> THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, WHAT IS HIS VULNERABILITY?

>> HE HAS NO MESSAGE, HE IS STRUGGLING WITH TRYING TO SEPARATE HIMSELF FROM A CHAMPION CULTURE.

HIS MESSAGE KIND OF BOTTOMS OUT ACROSS THE STATE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE AND GREAT TO SEE YOU, MY FRIEND.

>>> THE HOMEBUYING WARS MAY BE COMING TO AN END, OR AT LEAST SLOWING DOWN.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE LATEST.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY'S RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET HAS BEEN ON FIRE FOR MONTHS, BUT SOME OF THAT FRENZIED BUYING ACTIVITY HAS COOLED.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO NEW JERSEY REALTORS WHICH SAYS AFTER A RECORD-SETTING FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR, CONCERNS OVER AFFORDABILITY AND A LACK OF HOUSING INVENTORY HAS SLOWED THE MARKET.

THE PRESIDENT JEFF JONES SAYS SOME MONTHS IT IS HARD TO CALM DOWN AND A MORE STABLE NORMAL MARKET.

IN TERMS OF AFFORDABILITY, MORTGAGE RATES ARE STILL LOW BUT HOUSING PRICES ARE EXPLODING.

THE MEDIAN SALE PRICES IS 385,000, MORE THAN 20% INCREASE OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN 2020.

MEANTIME, THE STATE'S WAREHOUSE MARKET IS STILL BOOMING, WAREHOUSE VACANCY RATES HAVE FALLEN TO RECORD LOWS AND RENT HAVE HIT RECORD HIGHS IN BOTH CENTRAL AND NORTH JERSEY.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE SEEING A SURGE IN WAREHOUSE CONSTRUCTION, YOU CAN DIG DEEPER INTO THIS STORY ON NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WEBSITE.

MEMBERS OF THE PROBLEM SOLVERS CONFERENCE HAD A NEWS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON TODAY TO TRY TO CONVINCE COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT A NEW BIPARTISAN TRILLION DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.

NEW JERSEY CONGRESSMAN WAS AMONG THOSE LOBBYING FOR THE PASSAGE.

>> IT FIXES WHAT WE HAVE, INCLUDING FOR THOSE OF US FROM THE NORTHEAST, THE RAILWAY TUNNEL AND IT MOVES US FROM -- IF YOU BELIEVE AS I DO THAT AMERICA HAS THE MOVE TO FOSSIL FUELS TO CLEAN ENERGY, YOU SHOULD SUPPORT THIS BILL.

>> THE LEGISLATION CUTE DISCO CLEARED ANOTHER HURDLE.

THE DELTA VARIANT IS GIVING SOME BIG TECH COMPANIES PAUSE OVER WHETHER TO CALL THEIR EMPLOYEES TO THE OFFICE.

GOOGLE ANNOUNCED IT WOULD DELAY AND RETURN TO THE OFFICES IN OCTOBER, AND SAID ALL WORKERS MUST BE VACCINATED.

SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, FACEBOOK SAID IT TOO WOULD REQUIRE VACCINES.

THE RESEARCH FIRM SAYS OTHER MAJOR TECH COMPANIES MAY FOLLOW SUIT WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINES, BUT AT THIS POINT ACCORDING TO SURVEYS, LESS THAN 10% OF EMPLOYERS HAVE SAID THEY INTEND TO REQUIRE VACCINATION FOR ALL OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.

HERE'S A LOOK AT HOW WALL STREET WRAPPED UP THIS WEEK.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORY.

>>> BETTER CARE FOR NEW BABIES AND MOMS.

A LAW SIGNED YESTERDAY BY GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY GUARANTEES ALL NEW PARENTS A FREE HOME VISIT BY A REGISTERED NURSE WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF THEIR CHILDBIRTH OR AFTER ADOPTION.

MATERNAL CARE WORKERS SAY THAT IS CRITICAL FOR THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF NEWBORNS AND PARENTS.

JANINE DONALDSON REPORTS.

>> THANK GOD I'M HERE AND ALIVE, I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE VISITATION.

>> Reporter: THE NEW JERSEY MATERNAL MORTALITY RIGHT IS TWICE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, A NEW LAW IS AIMED AT REDUCING THAT BY INCREASING ACCESS TO POSTPARTUM CARE.

>> STATISTICS SHOW THAT A THIRD OF WOMEN DO NOT MAKE THEIR POSTPARTUM VISIT.

I THINK WHAT THIS BILL REPRESENTS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BRING CARE TO THOSE WOMEN.

>> Reporter: THE NEW LAW REQUIRES A REGISTERED NURSE TO DO UP TO THREE HOME VISITS FROM BIRTH, ADOPTIVE AND RESOURCED PARENTS BEGINNING THE FIRST TWO WEEKS AFTER A CHILD IS BORN.

>> IT'S A VALUE TO HAVING A REGISTERED NURSE, BECAUSE YOU WANT SOMEBODY WHO CAN PICK UP ON THOSE SUBTLE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS.

YOU WANT SOMEBODY CLINICAL.

>> Reporter: A BLACK MOTHER IS SEVEN TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN A WHITE THERE TO DIE FOR MATERNITY COMPLICATIONS.

A BLACK BABY IS MORE THAN THREE TIMES LIKELY THAN A WHITE BABY TO DIE BEFORE THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY.

THIS DOCTOR IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE WOMEN WHO DECLINED THE VOLUNTEERING PROGRAM, BASED ON CULTURAL EXPERIENCES.

>> PATIENTS THAT LOOK LIKE ME AND YOU ARE NOT ALWAYS CERTAIN WHAT THE ULTERIOR MOTIVE IS BEHIND PEOPLE COMING TO THEIR HOUSE.

WE HAVE BEEN OVER POLICED, WE HAVE BEEN OVER OBSERVED, WE HAVE BEEN OVER SCREENED.

AND SO WHEN THAT HAPPENS, SOMETIMES OUR REACTION TO THAT IS NO, I DON'T NEED IT.

>> Reporter: SENATOR TERESA RUIZ SPONSORED THE BILL, NOT KNOWING IF BREAST-FEEDING WAS SUCCESSFUL UNTIL A SPECIALIST CAME TO HER HOME.

>> I NEVER REALIZED WHEN I WAS DRAFTING THIS BILL, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT LEVELS THAT IT WOULD HELP, THAT IT WOULD SAVE LIVES.

>> Reporter: ASSEMBLYWOMAN SAYS THIS BILL HITS HOME.

AFTER SHE GAVE BIRTH, SHE SUFFERED FROM POSTPARTUM ISSUES AND HER HUSBAND'S MOTHER DIED A WEEK AFTER HE WAS BORN.

SHE BELIEVES THIS PROGRAM EXISTED BACK THEN, THE OUTCOMES MAY HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT FOR HER FAMILY.

>> I AM A MATERNAL HEALTH ADVOCATE ALL DAY AND I KNOW THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ALL COMMUNITIES NEED THIS, AS MOTHERS, FAMILIES, WE GO THROUGH OUR STRUGGLES ON A DAILY BASIS AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO ASK FOR HELP.

>> Reporter: SENIOR DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND STRATEGY FOR TRENTON HEALTH TEAM THAT THE PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO BE A LINK FOR OTHER SERVICES.

SHE COMPARED IT TO ONE SET TO ROLLOUT IN MERCER COUNTY.

>> THE NURSES ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE HOUSEHOLD.

ARE THERE ANY RESOURCES NEEDED FOR AN OLDER CHILD?

OR A GRANDPARENT WHO MIGHT BE IN THE HOUSEHOLD?

IT IS INTENDED TO LOOK HOLISTICALLY AT THE FAMILY NEEDS AND BE AN AVENUE TO DIRECT THEM INTO LONGER-TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORT.

>> Reporter: $2.75 MILLION WILL BE APPROPRIATED TO THE DCF TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM.

I'M JANINE DONALDSON FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE MEDICAL REPORT IS PROVIDED BY HORIZON BLUE CROSS SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>> AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND, PLENTY OF CLEANUP REMAINS IN PARTS OF THE STATE AFTER DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS RIPPED FOR THE AREA LAST NIGHT AT LEAST THREE TORNADOES BRIEFLY TOUCHED DOWN IN ESSEX AND OCEAN COUNTIES.

MORE CONFIRMATIONS EXPECTED AS THE SURVEYS CONTINUE, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

ONE WAS IN VERONA, WHERE WINS REACHED 65 MILES PER HOUR AND KNOCKED DOWN SEVERAL TREES.

DESTROYING AT LEAST ONE HOME.

IN LONG BEACH, AT LEAST 35 HOMES WERE DAMAGED AND THREE PEOPLE WERE INJURED.

THE TORNADOES WERE ONLY BRIEF BUT IT WAS PLENTY OF TIME TO DO DAMAGE, YOU CAN SEE THE CLOUD FORMING IN THIS FOOTAGE CAPTURED BY A RESIDENT IN EDISON.

THERE WERE 12 TORNADO WARNINGS ACROSS THE STATE LAST NIGHT, COVERING MERCER, MONMOUTH, OCEAN, BURLINGTON, ESSEX COUNTIES.

FORTUNATELY, THE FORECAST LOOKS MUCH SUNNIER AS WE HEAD INTO THIS LAST WEEKEND OF JULY.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS WEEK BUT YOU CAN CATCH UP ON ALL THE BIG STORIES, WATCH REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ SATURDAY AT 6 P.M. AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 10 A.M. ON NJ PBS, ALONG WITH THE SEASON FINALE OF CHAT BOX FEATURING A ONE-ON-ONE WITH GOVERNOR MURPHY.

SATURDAY AT 6:30 P.M..

I AM BRIANA VANNOZZI , FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM AND FOR BEING WITH US HIM A HAPPY FRIDAY AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> AND JM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

AND BY THE PSC G FOUNDATION.

>> THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT.

PS E.G..

IT WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.

JOBS, EDUCATIONAL, SUPPLY- CHAIN, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

OCEAN WIND, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW AM A LONG- TERM, SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> AT HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, WE MAKE SURE OUR HEALTH PLANS HAVE ALL THE BENEFITS YOU NEED.

MORE WAYS TO GET CARE VIRTUALLY MORE SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH, MORE TOOLS ON YOUR PHONE, ALL IN A RANGE OF PLANS SO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAN FIND WHAT YOU NEED.

AND WE CAN HELP.

BECAUSE EVERYONE SHOULD FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HAS THEIR BACK, NOT JUST IN UNCERTAIN TIMES, ALL THE TIME.