>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PRESENTED BY MGM INSURANCE GROUP.

SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

AND, HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

♪ THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI .

>> GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI.

IT ALL STARTED ONE YEAR AGO TODAY , THE STATE FIRST CASE OF COVID-19 WAS OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED.

A 32-YEAR-OLD MAN TESTING POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS, A CANARY IN A COAL MINE.

NO ONE WAS PREPARED FOR WHAT WOULD COME.

ONE YEAR LATER, A TOTAL OF ONE AND 712,000 CONFIRMED CASES, A VIRUS THAT CLAIMED THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 23,000 RESIDENTS AND COUNTING.

NEW JERSEY AND EARLY EPICENTER OF THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC, STILL HAS THE HIGH LIST CORONAVIRUS DEATH RATE PER CAPITA.

OUR LIVES CHANGED IN WAYS WE ARE STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.

IN MID APRIL, 8200 PEOPLE WERE HOSPITALIZED.

TODAY, CONGRESS IS BUILDING BUT THE PICTURE REMAINS UNCERTAIN WITH NEARLY 2000 RESIDENTS HOSPITALIZED.

ROUGHLY 2600 NEW CASES TODAY AND 46 MORE LIFE LOST.

WE ARE FAR FROM DONE WITH THIS HEALTH CRISIS, BUT HOPE HAS ARRIVED IN A SLOW AND STEADY ROLLOUT OF VACCINES.

JERSEYS ON JOHNSON & JOHNSON ONE SHOT VACCINE COMING TO MARKET JUST IN TIME.

THE FIRST DOSE IS BEING PUT IN ARMS AT CHURCHES AND HOSPITALS ACROSS THE STATE TODAY.

WE BEGIN OUR COVERAGE TONIGHT WITH A LOOK AT OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS.

STILL REELING FROM A TRAUMA AND PAVING A NEW WAY FORWARD.

BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> Reporter: MICHAEL MIRROR AND SAW HIS HOSPITAL ADMIT ITS FIRST COVID PATIENT MARCH 4th.

DOCTORS COUNT AND MASK UP BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

>> IT WAS WAIT AND SEE WHAT TO HAPPEN, HOW WILL THIS DISEASE PROGRESS?

WE DIDN'T KNOW.

AND THEN THERE WAS ALSO A SENSE OF HELPLESSNESS AND THAT WE KNEW THERE WERE NO ANTIVIRALS, NO MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES, NO KNOWN THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS THAT WE COULD BRING TO BEAR.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY'S FIRST OFFICIAL COVID PATIENT ENTERED HACKENSACK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER THAT SAME DAY, FOR THE VIRUS, AND LIVE.

BUT AS IT STARTED TO SURGE, PATIENTS FLOODED E.R.s AND HOSPITALS ACROSS NEW JERSEY.

HOSPITALS ADDED MORE NEGATIVE PRESSURE ROOMS, STARTED SCROUNGING FOR PPE, STAFF GOT SICK.

HOLY NAME TRANSFORMED INTO A COVID WARD WITH EVERYONE OF ITS 270 ROOMS OCCUPIED BY A PATIENT IS STRUGGLING.

THE GOVERNOR CANCELED ELECTIVE SURGERIES AND ADMINISTRATORS REALIZED THEY FACED A MONSTER.

>> A VERY DEADLY, HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VIRUS.

IT CAN PROGRESS VERY RAPIDLY.

ONCE INFECTED, SOMEONE COULD LOOK FINE AND WITHIN HOURS DETERIORATE TO A POINT WHERE THEY ARE ON A VENTILATOR.

IT HEIGHTENED OUR ALERT.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY'S FIRST COVID DEATH WAS ANNOUNCED MARCH 10th, A 69-YEAR-OLD MAN HERE IN BRINGING COUNTY.

OVER THE NEXT YEAR, IT WOULD KILL ALMOST 23,000 PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY.

>> THE WARD WAS OVERRUN, WE HAD BODIES THAT WERE JUST -- WE HAD TO STORE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF BODIES.

THAT IS TRAUMATIC.

>> Reporter: UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL DR.

RECALLS THE COVID SPIKE WENT AMY -- 80 ARMY RESERVISTS WENT TO RESCUE HOSPITAL WORKERS.

>> WE WERE AT OUR BREAKING POINT.

IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE U.S. ARMY RESERVES, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO.

THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO US TURNING THE CORNER.

>> Reporter: HOSPITALS AGGRESSIVELY APPLIED LESSONS LEARNED TO USE VENTILATORS SPARINGLY, TURN PATIENTS TO EASE BREATHING AND APPLY NEW TESTS AND THERAPIES, INCLUDING ANTIVIRALS AND ANTIBODIES.

>> THERE ARE INTERVENTIONS THAT HAVE GREAT SUCCESS, NOT ABSOLUTE SUCCESS BUT GREAT SUCCESS.

IN HELPING PATIENTS RECOVER FROM THIS DISEASE.

>> Reporter: MAREN HIMSELF RECOVERED FROM COVID, HOSPITALS NOW WIELD THREE DIFFERENT VACCINES BUT MEDICAL EXPERTS AREN'T DECLARING VICTORY.

TODAY, BOTH UNIVERSITY AND HOLY NAME ARE TREATING 30 COVID PATIENTS EACH.

THE SURGE LEFT MANY HOSPITALS EMOTIONALLY SCARRED.

>> IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN'T IGNORE.

WE CAN'T IGNORE WHAT IMPACT THIS HAS HAD ON OUR STAFF.

BECAUSE IT IS STILL FELT.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE ULTIMATE LESSON.

>> Reporter: WILL NEW JERSEY WAS ABLE TO FLATTEN THE CURVE, IT CAME BACK UP.

BECAUSE THE WHOLE WORLD WAS EXPLODING.

AND WE ARE STILL CONNECTED TO THE ENTIRE WORLD.

>> Reporter: BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> WHEN THE CORONAVIRUS HIT OUR NURSING HOMES, SOME CALLED IT A PERFECT STORM.

A MIX OF ELDERLY, FLARE -- FAIL RESIDENTS MADE MORE VULNERABLE BY A SYSTEM CAUGHT OFF GUARD.

NEARLY 8000 RESIDENTS HAVE DIED.

NEW JERSEY HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF NURSING HOME DEATHS IN THE NATION.

BUT THE STATE HAS TURNED A CORNER, THANKS TO NEW REFORMS AND WIDELY AVAILABLE VACCINES.

MORE THAN 2.2 MILLION ADMINISTERED AS OF TODAY, JUST UNDER 760,000 SECOND DOSES.

THIS WEEK FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REPORTED AN ENCOURAGING DROP IN CASES AND FATALITIES AT NURSING HOMES.

POSITIVE TESTS ARE DOWN MORE THAN 96% FROM JANUARY TO THE END OF FEBRUARY.

DEATHS DROPPED ROUGHLY THE SAME DURING THAT PERIOD.

IS THE PROGRESS HERE TO STAY?

LILO STAINTON EXPLAINS.

WE CAN'T OVERSTATE JUST HOW BAD THE SITUATION WAS IN THESE NURSING HOMES.

BUT, IF WHAT WE ARE SEEING ENOUGH TO MAKE THIS BIG OF A CHANGE?

>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

FIRST OF ALL, THOSE DROPS ARE SO SIGNIFICANT.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING MORE DATA BEHIND THAT BECAUSE NATIONWIDE, THE TREND IS LIKE AN 80% DROP.

THAT WAS MEASURING, IT'S VERY COMPLICATED BECAUSE WHERE YOU MEASURE, WHETHER FROM THE PEAK OR WHEN YOU STARTED THE VACCINES.

IT'S REALLY COMPLICATED.

I THINK, LIKE YOU SAID, THERE ARE A LOT OF REPORTS ON THE TABLE.

THE ADVOCATES AND PEOPLE I TALKED TO, SOME OF THEM ARE REALLY SIGNIFICANT.

THE STATE PUT A LOT OF MONEY, THE MURPHY MINISTRATION ALONE PUT MORE THAN $150 MILLION INTO WAGES AND PPE FUNDING FOR THESE FACILITIES.

BUT A LOT OF THESE ARE REALLY SYSTEMIC ALBUMS, HAVE BEEN THERE A LONG TIME AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WAGES FOR FRONTLINE STAFF, THERE'S A WHOLE ECONOMIC QUESTION.

IT'S COMPLEX STUFF.

THEY WON'T BE SOLVED IN JUST A FEW PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

>> NOTHING ABOUT IT IS EASY.

WHEN YOU SPOKE WITH THOSE ADVOCATES AND THEY LOOKED BACK ON THE YEAR, ARE THERE ONE OR TWO ITEMS THAT THEY REALLY WANT TO SEE GET TO THE FOREFRONT?

>> Reporter: THE THING YOU HEAR OVER AND OVER IS INVESTING THE FRONT LINE.

CERTIFIED NURSES AIDES WHO MAKE -- THESE OTHER PEOPLE THAT YOUR MOTHER OR FATHER WAKES UP TO AND SPEAKS TO FIRST IN THE MORNING.

THIS IS THE PERSON WHO CARES FOR THEM IN THE BATHROOM.

BUT THEY ARE DOING THINGS THAT IT'S UNBELIEVABLE, THE SCOPE OF THE WORK AND INTENSITY.

AND THEY ARE BEING PAID ON THE EQUIVALENT OF A FAST FOOD STORE.

SO, REFORMING THAT AND CREATING A SYSTEMIC WAY SO MORE PEOPLE WANT TO COME INTO THIS BUSINESS, THERE'S A WAY TO BE REWARDED.

ALL OF THAT IS IMPORTANT.

FUNDING IN GENERAL IS IMPORTANT.

ALSO MORE OVERSIGHT FROM THE STATE, LICENSING QUESTIONS, THERE IS NITTY-GRITTY STUFF BUT A LOT OF IT IS ABOUT THE WORKFORCE.

>> THERE ARE ALSO PEOPLE WHO HOLD PHONES SO LOVED ONES CAN SAY GOODBYE.

LILO STAINTON, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Reporter: THANK YOU.

>> AS THE STATE CONTINUES TO RECOVER, ONE LARGE GROUP OF HIGH RISK WORKERS WERE RECENTLY ADDED TO THE VEXING ELIGIBILITY LIST.

TEACHERS.

THEY WERE FORCED TO PIVOT ON A DIME WHEN THE STATE TOOK A DRASTIC STEP OF CLOSING ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS LAST YEAR.

A MASSIVE EFFORT TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.

WELL 20 DISTRICTS ARE BACK TO IN PERSON LEARNING, MANY OTHERS HAVE YET TO OPEN.

IS EXPANDING VACCINE ACCESS THE ANSWER TO SAFE SCHOOLS?

JOANNA GAGIS REPORTS.

>> Reporter: A YEAR AFTER THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, TEACHER SHANNON MURPHY, LIKE SO MANY, JUST ONCE SCHOOL LIFE TO BE BACK TO NORMAL.

MANY BELIEVE A VACCINE IS THE ANSWER TO THAT.

>> I AM ANXIOUSLY AWAITING MY TIME.

SO THAT WHENEVER I AM FEELING SLIGHTLY ILL OR SICK, I DON'T HAVE THAT CONSTANT WORRY.

>> Reporter: THE VEXING ROLLOUT HAS BEEN SLOW FOR TEACHERS.

MADISON SCHOOL DISTRICT IS LOOKING TO GO FULL-TIME ULTIMATELY SUCCESS IT HAS HAD SINCE OCTOBER WHEN ELEMENTARY SKIDS -- KIDS HAVE BEEN IN SCHOOL.

>> WE HAVE HAD ONLY ONE CASE, WE ARE LOOKING AT MOVING THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO A MORE FULL-DAY MODEL AND LOOKING AT MOVING MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL BACK TO IN PERSON.

>> MADISON NEEDED TO INVEST IN PLEXIGLASS FOR EVERY DESK.

BUT THE STATE GUIDELINES AROUND SOCIAL DISTANCING STILL MAKE THAT FULL RETURN A CHALLENGE.

>> IF WE HAVE TO CONDUCT CONTACT TRACING, WHICH WE DO, THEN WE HAVE TO QUARANTINE ANYONE WITHIN A SIX FOOT RADIUS OF THE PERSON.

THAT RULE COMES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REQUIRES SIX FEET TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PRACTICABLE.

BUT RECENT CDC GUIDANCE HAS PLACED LESS OF AN ACCIDENT -- ON THAT SIX FEET.

>> WE KNOW BASED ON DATA AND CDC REPORTS THAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE EXTREMELY SAFE.

THERE IS VERY LITTLE EVIDENCE OF IN SCHOOL TRANSMISSION.

PERHAPS, WHEN PLANNING AHEAD, THERE IS A PHASED APPROACH WHERE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE EARLIER THAN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL WHERE THE RISK COULD BE GREATER FOR TRANSMISSION.

PARTICULARLY IF TEACHER VACCINATIONS ARE ROLLING .

>> Reporter: THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE INDICATED THERE IS NO PLAN AT THE MOMENT TO UPDATE STATE GUIDELINES.

LEAVING DISTRICT LIKE VERONA UNABLE TO FIT MORE KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM.

DUPREE SAYS NOT HAVING THAT TAXABILITY LEAVES KIDS EXPERIENCING AN EDUCATIONAL CRISIS.

>> HYBRID IS NOT ADEQUATE.

IT'S HEARTBREAKING TO SEE A YEAR AGO, WHAT ONCE WAS USEFUL FERVOR TO LEARN, TRANSFORM INTO A GENERAL APATHY TOWARD SCHOOL.

>> Reporter: FOR ELISE SWANSON, GETTING VACCINATED YESTERDAY WAS A HUGE SENSE OF RELIEF GOING INTO THE CLASSROOM TODAY.

>> THERE WAS SUCH A SENSE OF RELIEF.

I GOT A LITTLE EMOTIONAL.

>> Reporter: IS NOT THE ONLY FACTOR IN THE OPENING OF SCHOOLS.

COMMUNITY SPREAD IS STILL A BIGGER THREAT.

>> I THINK IT GOES HAND IN HAND.

THE MORE VACCINATIONS, THE LESS LIKELY THE VIRUS CAN SPREAD.

>> Reporter: ALL TEACHERS ARE ELIGIBLE STARTING MARCH 15th, BUT LIKELY WON'T BE UNTIL LATE SPRING THAT ALL THOSE ARE VACCINATED.

WITHOUT THAT AND WITHOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES, FULL CLASSES WILL NOT BE IN SESSION.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

>> CURBING THE SPREAD MEANT LARGELY SHUTTING DOWN OUR BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE.

HOW ARE THEY FARING NOW?

ONE YEAR LATER.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS A DEEPER LOOK AND TODAY'S TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> Reporter: 1.5 MILLION NEW JERSEYANS COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, ABOUT A THIRD OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES CLOSED.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE DEPRESSING ECONOMIC STATISTICS ONE YEAR AFTER NEW JERSEY REPORTED ITS FIRST CORONAVIRUS CASE.

THE HEALTH CRISIS TURNED INTO AN ECONOMIC UPHEAVAL AS PANDEMIC RELATED RESTRICTIONS CHARTERED NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES.

NJ SPOTLIGHTS JOHN WRIGHT MEYER REFLECTS BACK.

>> THE THING THAT JUMPS OUT TO ME IS SOME OF THE NUMBERS.

SOMETIMES THEY TELL THE STORY.

WE HAD MONTHS WITH 17% UNEMPLOYMENT.

>> Reporter: ONE BRIGHT SPOT, THE NUMBER OF NEW WEEKLY CLAIMS FILED IN THE LATEST WEEK REACHED A ONE-YEAR LOW.

READ MORE ABOUT THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY ON NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG.

WHEN THE ECONOMY RECOVERS, THE STATE MUST ENSURE MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES ALSO BOUNCED BACK.

STATE SENATOR TORI SINGLETON SAYS BLACK AND BROWN OWNED BUSINESSES HAVE FALLEN BEHIND.

>> I THINK THE COVID PANDEMIC HAS EXACERBATED SOMETHING THAT SO MANY OF US KNOW ALREADY, THAT MANY MINORITY BUSINESSES HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE SAME TRACTION.

NOT JUST IN NEW JERSEY BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS IT RELATES TO FULFILLING THEIR GROWTH.

>> Reporter: SINGLETON INTRODUCED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROVIDE FINANCIAL AND OTHER SUPPORT TO MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES.

REPLENISHMENT EFFORTS IN NEW JERSEY COULD BE GETTING A BOOST.

THIS AFTERNOON, THE SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE VOTED TO APPROVE A BILL TO BOOST FUNDING TO PRESERVE SHORELINE.

BEFORE THAT, THE COMMITTEE HEARD TESTIMONY FROM ADVOCATES WHO SAY NEW JERSEY IS VULNERABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND MORE FOR PROTECTION IS NEEDED.

OPPONENTS ARGUE EACH REPLENISHMENT HASN'T PREVENTED FLOODING AND THAT OTHER METHODS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TO BUILD A RESILIENT COASTLINE.

IT WOULD PROVIDE $50 BILLION TO THE SHORE PROTECTION FUND, DOUBLE THE CURRENT AMOUNT.

MONEY FOR THAT FUND COMES FROM TRANSFER FEES.

THE STATE HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN THOSE FEES DUE TO THE STRONG HOUSING MARKET.

>>> HERE IS A CHECK ON WALL STREET TRADING TODAY.

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

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY JPMORGAN CHASE, A PROVIDER OF INVESTMENT BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR CONSUMERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

COMMERCIAL BANKING, FINANCIAL TRANSACTION PROCESSING, AND ASSET MANAGEMENT.

>> JOIN RHONDA SCHAFFLER ON THE BUSINESS BEAT, SHE DIGS INTO THE LEGAL MARIJUANA MARKET.

YOU CAN FIND IT ON OUR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL SATURDAY MORNINGS AT 10 A.M. >>> HEALTH EXPERTS TALK A LOT ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

BUT THAT HAS BEEN HARDER TO MEASURE FOR SOME GROUPS.

OUR LGBTQ POPULATION HAS FOUND ITSELF ESPECIALLY HARD-HIT BY THE MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND ECONOMIC TOLL.

THOSE WORKING IN THE SPACE SAY IT IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW THE TRUE IMPACT BECAUSE THE STATE DOESN'T UNIFORMLY COLLECT DATA ON GENDER IDENTITY OR SECOND SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

RAVEN SANTANA TAKES A DEEPER LOOK AT WHICH NEEDS ARE GOING UNMET.

>> I HAD AN INTERVIEW, I MENTIONED USING MY PRONOUNCE WAS IMPORTANT.

I DID NOT GET A FOLLOW-UP.

>> Reporter: ALICE, WHO IS NINE BEARING EVERY -- NON-BINARY, SHARED THE STRUGGLES THAT SO MANY HAVE BEEN FACING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> UR DOESN'T EXIST, AND HAVING THAT BEING YOUR REALITY ON A DAILY BASIS.

>> Reporter: THE 35-YEAR-OLD SAYS IT WAS ONLY WHEN HE CHANGED HIS NAME BACK TO HIS DAD AND NOT MENTION HIS PRONOUNCE THAT HE WAS ABLE TO LAND A JOB INTERVIEW AND RECEIVE HEALTH INSURANCE TO UNDERGO HORMONAL TREATMENT AND TOP SURGERY.

>> I BASICALLY HAD TO BE SOMEONE I AM NOT, THAT HAS BEEN REALLY ROUGH MENTALLY.

BECAUSE WE COUNT DOWN THE DAYS, HOURS, MINUTES UNTIL WE CAN GET GENDER AFFIRMING SURGERIES.

>> FOR LGBTQ PEOPLE, ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS ARE HUGE BECAUSE NUMEROUS STATES DO NOT HAVE PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE.

THEY CAN GET FIRED.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO A RECENT SURVEY, LGBTQ PLUS PEOPLE ARE GROWING IN NUMBERS.

THE REPORT FINDS A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SAY THEY ARE BISEXUAL, AND ONE IN SIX ADULTS IN GENERATION Z CONSIDER THEMSELVES LGBT.

DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SAYS DESPITE THAT, THE IMPACT THAT CORONAVIRUS HAS HAD ON MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN NEW JERSEY REMAINS UNKNOWN.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DOES NOT DISTINGUISH SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY WHEN REPORTING COVID CASES.

THAT'S WHY DR.

RECENTLY COMPLETED HIS OWN RESEARCH.

>> KNOWING THAT SOMEBODY IS A MOTHER AND HAS TWO CHILDREN AND KNOWING SOMEONE LIVES IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE, AND KNOWING SOMEONE IS AFRICAN- AMERICAN, VERY IMPORTANT.

KNOWING SOMEONE IS , LESBIAN, TRANSGENDER, IS THE SAME LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE.

>> Reporter: IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THOSE IDENTIFYING AS LGBTQ PLUS ALSO HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO GO AT A HOSPITAL.

>> IF YOU ARE MAX SMITH AND YOU HAVE NOT CHANGED YOUR NAME, AND YOU WANT TO BE CALLED MAXINE, IT IS GOING TO SHOW ON YOUR I.D.

THAT YOUR REAL NAME, YOUR PREFERRED NAME, AND YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME.

>> Reporter: IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT AN INCREASE IN DISCRIMINATION, GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY SIGNED THE LGBTQ SENIOR BILL OF RIGHTS LEGISLATION WHICH ESTABLISHES SPECIFIC RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS ON -- MENTAL HEALTH HAS BECOME ANOTHER CHALLENGE.

>> OUR SEASONED SENIOR COMMUNITY AS WELL AS A REVIEW OF HER YOUTH AND ADULTS HAVE BEEN HARDEST HIT.

SENIORS ARE ALREADY MORE ISOLATED NATURALLY.

FOR OUR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY ARE LIVING IN HOMES THAT ARE NOT -- NOT ALWAYS, BUT A LOT OF THE TIME LIVING IN HOMES THAT ARE NOT ACCEPTING OF GENDER IDENTITY OR SEXUALITY.

SO THEY ARE FEELING EVEN MORE ISOLATED.

>> Reporter: AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVERYONE I SPOKE TO AGREES THAT COVID HAS BROUGHT DISPROPORTIONATE HARDSHIPS FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

THEY SAY AND HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH A LACK OF EDUCATION, WHICH CREATES AND ALLOWS BARRIERS TO EXIST.

IT IS NOW UP TO THE STATE TO PROTECT THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE, WHICH INCLUDES LGBTQ PLUS.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM RAVEN SANTANA.

>> AS VACCINE ENROLLMENT BEGAN OPENING UP TO MILLIONS MORE PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE, SO DID THE STRUGGLE TO LOCK IN AN APPOINTMENT.

IT IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.

YOU HAVE TO NAVIGATE A WAVE OF WEBSITES THROUGH LOCAL, COUNTY, AND STATE WEBSITES.

OTHERS HAVE TURNED TO GROUPS OF GOOD SAMARITANS, VOLUNTEERS WHO SET UP PAGES ON SOCIAL MEDIA SELFLESSLY HELPING TO SIGN UP HUNDREDS TO THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS FOR VACCINATIONS.

TONIGHT, WE MEET THE SELF- DESCRIBED VACCINE ANGELS.

LEAH MISHKIN HAS THE STORY.

>> I REALIZED HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE STRUGGLING.

>> Reporter: IN JANUARY WHEN COVID-19 VACCINES FIRST ARRIVED EMMA JESSICA FARRELL SAYS SHE HOPED -- BOOKED APPOINTMENTS FOR HER PARENTS AND NEIGHBORS.

NOT EVERYONE HAD THE SAME LUCK.

WORD QUICKLY SPREAD ABOUT HER SUCCESS NAVIGATING THE FRUSTRATING PROCESS.

THE TWO TEACHERS, WHO HAVE BEEN BEST FRIENDS SINCE SIXTH GRADE, TOOK MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS NEARLY 3 WEEKS AGO.

>> WE REALLY WANTED TO SERVICE 65 AND OLDER.

UNTIL 2013, I HAD FOUR GRANDPARENTS.

I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO GROW UP WITH THEM AND I FEEL LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING BOTH OF MY GRANDFATHERS WOULD HAVE DONE.

>> Reporter: THE FACEBOOK GROUP, NORTHERN NEW JERSEY COVID VACCINE ANGELS, IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN SIGN UP TO GET VACCINE APPOINTMENT HELP.

>> WE OPENED THE LIST THE OTHER DAY, I THINK I POSTED IT AT 7 P.M.. BY MIDNIGHT, JESSICA CALLED ME AND SAID, WE ARE AT 150.

SO WE CLOSED IT FOR A LITTLE BIT, WE CATCH UP, THE VOLUNTEERS HOP ON, THEY START MAKING APPOINTMENTS AND WHEN WE WEAVE THROUGH THAT LIST, WE OPEN IT UP AGAIN.

>> Reporter: THE NORTHERN NEW JERSEY MOMS AND 13 OTHER VOLUNTEERS ALSO HELP ANYONE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS.

>> AND SOME PEOPLE SAID I HAVE CANCER OR I'M IN REMISSION, THAT'S WHY I AM STAYING UP THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.

>> Reporter: EVER SINCE TEACHERS BECAME ELIGIBLE, THE VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN HELPING THEM.

>> A LOT OF US ARE TEACHERS, AND WE WANT TO SEE OUR FELLOW TEACHERS BE VACCINATED.

AND BE READY FOR SCHOOL TO REOPEN.

>> Reporter: THEY ALSO POST TO THE GROUP WHEN A VACCINE SITE IS ADDING NEW APPOINTMENTS.

THE MORE THAN 1000 MEMBERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO SECURE A SPOT.

>> MY YOUNGER SISTER IS REALLY GREAT ABOUT PAYING ATTENTION AND POSTING.

HACKENSACK MEGA CENTER, THAT ONE OPENS AT 12 A.M., THEY DROP ALL OF THEIR APPOINTMENTS EVERY DAY.

WE KNOW THAT IS A GUARANTEED BOOK.

THEY GO SO FAST.

>> YOU NEED TO GET THROUGH THE INITIAL SCREENING, THEN ONCE MIDNIGHT HITS YOU NEED TO REFRESH AS FAST AS YOU CAN.

AND IF YOU ARE ABLE TO AUTO FILL, THAT IS A HUGE HELP.

>> Reporter: THE COVID ANGELS COMMUNICATE VIA TEXT, LOOKING AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY.

>> THE 4:31, WE JUST FOUND THAT LAST WEEK.

>> Reporter: THE THIRD GRADE TEACHER HAS ALREADY BOOKED 205 APPOINTMENTS AND COUNTING.

HER FRIEND JESSICA FARRELL SECURED MORE THAN 200 OF HER OWN.

AND THE REST OF THE VOLUNTEERS ARE HITTING BIG NUMBERS.

>> I LIKE TO STAY HERE AFTER SCHOOL, I GET MY LIST, I GET MY ADDRESSES, AND THAT I GO HOME.

>> Reporter: HOME AM AWARE THE LIFELONG FRIENDS HAVE INSPIRED THEIR OWN KIDS TO JOIN ON THE MISSION.

I AM LEAH MISHKIN FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> A WORTHY MISSION FOR SURE.

>>> BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU, A REMINDER TO CATCH UP ON ALL THE BIG STORIES THIS WEEK BY WATCHING REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ FRIDAY MORNING AT 10 A.M. ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE .

RICHARD SMITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP NEW JERSEY CONFERENCE, JOINS TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE NEW STATE CANNABIS COMMISSION.

THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

HEAD OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WEBSITE OR ANY SOCIAL CHANNELS TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING.

I'M BRIANA VANNOZZI , FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND ORSTEAD, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW , LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> THIS IS WHAT I WORK FOR.

TO TEACH HIM.

TO PROTECT HER.

AND TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

I NEED HEALTH INSURANCE THAT MAKES THINGS EASIER.

SO I CAN FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS.

THIS IS MY LIFE.

AND THIS IS HOW HORIZON CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY WORKS FOR ME.