The New Jersey healthcare community is joining with the state Department of Health for a number of events in concert with World AIDS Day Dec. 1.

The events, beginning this week, include free testing, counseling and memorial programs. A full listing is available on the DOH website.

In related news, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued findings today from a new Vital Signs report that shows that HIV is being diagnosed sooner after infection than was previously reported. According to the report, the estimated median time from HIV infection to diagnosis was three years in 2015. CDC previously estimated that, in 2011, the median time from HIV infection to diagnosis was three years and seven months.

“These findings are more encouraging signs that the tide continues to turn on our nation’s HIV epidemic,” said CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald, MD. “HIV is being diagnosed more quickly, the number of people who have the virus under control is up, and annual infections are down. So while we celebrate our progress, we pledge to work together to end this epidemic forever.”