Murphy to Unveil Blueprint to Reopen NJ

By Jim Pytell, Assistant Editor On Apr 20, 2020

At today’s COVID-19 press briefing, Gov. Phil Murphy said he intends to “lay out a blueprint” in the “coming days” on how to proceed with reopening the state amid the virus. 

“In the coming days I will announce the benchmarks we will need to see and the principles which we will follow to reopen our state and begin our reemergence from his pandemic,” Murphy said.

He added, however, that reopening New Jersey’s economy today would “backfire” with “a large spike in COVID-19 cases,” and “no customers at our stores because people are still fearful for their health.”

He said that first securing the public health situation will restore the confidence needed to ensure the economy comes back strong.

“Our driving purpose has been to save lives,” Murphy said. “Personal health creates economic health.”

New Jersey’s total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases now stands at 88,806, after 3,528 new cases were reported overnight. The state additionally has 4,377 total fatalities from the virus after 177 new deaths were also confirmed overnight.

While the cumulative totals continue to grow, Murphy did highlight that the number of new cases being reported over the past three weeks has been “relatively stable.”

PPE Distribution

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has distributed more than 10 million pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) from the state stockpile. 

Murphy said that over the past week alone, the state has moved 5 million pieces of PPE, including nearly 900,000 N95 masks, 1.3 million surgical masks, and more than 2.6 million gloves.

The state has also received an N95 mask decontamination unit from Ohio-based non-profit science and technology company Battelle, which is currently being set up in Edison.

Marinas and Marine Manufacturers to Open

Over the weekend, New Jersey, along with New York and Connecticut, announced that marinas, boatyards and marine manufacturers will be allowed open for personal use as long as strict social distancing and sanitization protocols are followed.

Chartered watercraft services or rentals will not be allowed, and restaurant activity at these sites must be limited to take-out or delivery only, which mirrors the guidance currently in place in all three states.

“We’ve committed to working with our regional partners throughout this crisis to align our policies when and where appropriate,” Murphy said. “A unified approach is the most effective way to alleviate confusion for the residents of our states during the ongoing public health emergency.”

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

Related Articles: