From Ted Sherman at NJ.com: “A high-ranking state Health Department official mysteriously let go at the height of the pandemic alleges the real reason he was fired was because he pushed back on a request to test relatives of Gov. Phil Murphy’s top aide for coronavirus, calling it a “complete waste of his time.”

According to a newly filed whistleblower lawsuit obtained by NJ Advance Media, Christopher Neuwirth — who served as assistant commissioner for the Division of Public Health, Infrastructure, Laboratories and Emergency Preparedness — claimed that he was ordered in late April to provide test kits to family members of George Helmy, the governor’s chief of staff, for COVID-19.”