Gov. Phil Murphy announced Thursday he’s extending the public-health emergency he declared in New Jersey because of the coronavirus pandemic by another 30 days, even as the state’s outbreak has slowed significantly and its gradual reopening plans move forward.
Murphy has already lifted his stay-at-home order and has eased many other of the restrictions he put in place in March to fight the virus’ spread. This doesn’t change that.
But the move does extend all of the governor’s executive orders that remain in place, including a ban on indoor dining at bars and restaurants and other indoor activities, like movie theaters and other entertainment.
“These declarations, 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 should there be a new outbreak of COVID-19.”
“And we continue to work vigilantly to protect against that happening,” the governor added. “But, we can’t do it all by ourselves. We need all nine million of you to continue working right 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 the Garden State, which is now home to the second-most deaths and cases in the U.S.
While the state of emergency is indefinite, Murphy extended the public-health emergency on April 7 and again in early May and June. This new extension will remain in place through early August.
A state of emergency gives state authorities certain executive powers and safeguards to respond to a crisis. It also allows the state to receive federal aid.
A public-health emergency allows the governor to take broad action 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 deaths — both lab-confirmed and probable — attributed to COVID-19, with 172,356 known cases, in the nearly four months since its first case was announced March 4. The Garden State ranks second in deaths and fourth in cases among U.S. states.
State officials announced 27 new deaths and 539 new positive tests Thursday.
But while new cases are surging in many other states, New Jersey’s numbers of new deaths and cases per day, as well as total hospitalizations, are down significantly since peaking 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 allowed to reopen Thursday.
Murphy, however, canceled plans to allow indoor dining at bars and restaurants starting Thursday.
He said the biggest reason was rising cases in other states were due in part to the reopening of indoor dining, in which patrons don’t wear masks when they eat and are largely sedentary for large periods of time. He said it didn’t help that New Jersey saw packed crowds at some bars and restaurants ignoring social-distancing guidelines in the two weeks since outdoor dining has been allowed.
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Murphy on Thursday also announced 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 large outdoor high school graduations, which may resume Monday.
Summer camps and summer school also allowed to resume Monday.
In addition, the state is calling for out-of-state travelers to quarantine for 14 days if they’re visiting New Jersey or returning home after spending time in states considered coronavirus hotspots. The list — which Murphy said may change regularly — increased to 16 states late Monday.
Meanwhile, about 1.3 million Garden State residents have filed for unemployment benefits as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the economy.
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Matt Arco may be reached at [email protected].
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