Gov. Phil Murphy announced Thursday that he will extend the public health emergency he declared in New Jersey due to the coronavirus pandemic for another 30 days, even as the state outbreak has slowed down significantly and his gradual reopening plans are moving forward.
Murphy has already lifted his order to stay home and has eased many other restrictions he imposed in March to combat the spread of the virus. This does not change that.
But the measure does extend all of the governor’s executive orders that remain in effect, including a ban on indoor dining in bars and restaurants and other indoor activities such as movie theaters and other entertainment.
“These statements, unless extended, expire after 30 days,” Murphy said during his daily coronavirus briefing in Trenton. “What today’s action means is that we will have the authority to remain vigilant and prepared to act in the event of a new COVID-19 outbreak.”
“And we continue to work closely to protect ourselves from that happening,” added the governor. “But we cannot all do it alone. We need the nine million of you to continue working alongside us. “
Murphy declared both a state of emergency and a public health emergency on March 9, as COVID-19 was beginning to spread in Garden State, which now houses the second-highest number of deaths and cases in the U.S.
While the state of emergency is undefined, Murphy extended the public health emergency on April 7 and again in early May and June. This new extension will remain in force until the beginning of August.
A state of emergency gives state authorities certain executive powers and guarantees to respond to a crisis. It also allows the state to receive federal aid.
A public health emergency allows the governor to take comprehensive steps to protect New Jersey under the Emergency Health Powers Act.
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New Jersey, a densely populated state of 9 million residents, has reported at least 15,105 known, laboratory confirmed, and probable deaths attributed to COVID-19, with 172,356 known cases, in the nearly four months since its first case was announced. in March. 4. The Garden State ranks second in deaths and fourth in cases among US states.
State officials announced 27 new deaths and 539 new positive tests on Thursday.
But while new cases are emerging in many other states, the number of new deaths and cases per day in New Jersey, as well as total hospitalizations, have dropped significantly since their peak in April.
New Jersey is currently in Stage 2 of Murphy’s gradual reopening plan. In some of the latest changes, casinos, amusement parks, museums and libraries were able to reopen on Thursday.
Murphy, however, canceled plans to allow indoor dining in bars and restaurants starting Thursday.
He said the most important reason was that the increasing cases in other states were due in part to the reopening of food indoors, in which customers don’t wear masks when they eat and are largely sedentary for long periods of time. . He said it didn’t help that New Jersey had seen crowds in some bars and restaurants ignoring social distancing patterns in the two weeks since cookouts were allowed.
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Murphy also announced Thursday that the limit on the number of people allowed at outdoor gatherings in New Jersey will increase from 250 to 500 on Friday. That paves the way for big outdoor high school graduations, which can resume on Monday.
Summer camps and summer school may also resume on Monday.
Additionally, the state is asking travelers from other states to quarantine for 14 days if they visit New Jersey or return home after spending time in states considered coronavirus hot spots. The list, which Murphy said can change regularly, increased to 16 states on Monday night.
Meanwhile, approximately 1.3 million Garden State residents have applied for unemployment benefits as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the economy.
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Matt Arco can be reached in [email protected].
Brent johnson can be reached in [email protected].
