Courthouse Where Workers Became Ill Staying Closed

Officials say testing will continue to determine why dozens of staffers there have become ill this month.

The Monmouth County Courthouse will remain closed while testing continues to determine why dozens of staffers there have become ill this month.

The building was closed June 18, when 25 people were hospitalized and roughly 40 more were treated for symptoms that included nausea, skin rashes, breathing difficulties and chest pains.

That outbreak came after 17 staffers had experienced similar symptoms on June 15. Authorities initially thought those workers had reactions to a freshly cut flower that a colleague had brought into the building, but that theory has been ruled out.

Officials had hoped to reopen the building in Freehold on Monday, but instead announced late Sunday afternoon that it will remain shuttered.

While the building has been closed, bare-bones court operations have continued at other sites in the county.



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