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New Jersey Governor Expects Reopening to Begin Within Weeks New Jersey Governor Expects Reopening to Begin Within Weeks
(32 minutes later)
Gov. Philip D. Murphy sketched out benchmarks on Monday for relaxing his coronavirus lockdown order and reopening businesses in New Jersey even as he warned that the state faces a financial “Armageddon” — and could be unable to pay its teachers, firefighters and police officers. Gov. Philip D. Murphy on Monday sketched out the benchmarks New Jersey will need to reach before the coronavirus lockdown order is lifted, even as he warned of a financial “Armageddon” that could leave the state unable to pay its teachers, firefighters and police officers.
He gave no indication of when the stay-at-home order might be lifted, saying it would remain fully in place until further notice. The stay-at-home order will remain fully in place until further notice, but the governor said he expected the timeline for reopening to be measured in weeks, not months.
Sounding a more hopeful note, Mr. Murphy did say that schools might reopen before the end of June. “There is a chance that we could get back in school,” he said in an interview Monday morning on CNBC. He also said that schools might reopen before the end of June. “There is a chance that we could get back in school,” he said in an interview Monday morning on CNBC.
Mr. Murphy, at a noon briefing, laid out four metrics that will be used to determine how quickly the state can begin to reopen: a sustained decline in hospitalization and infection rates; expanded testing capacity; more tracing of people who have had contact with those infected with the virus; and increased availability of places, such as hotels, for people who are sick with the virus to remain in isolation. Hours later, at a media briefing, Mr. Murphy laid out four broad metrics that will be used to determine when and how businesses in the state can begin to reopen.
He called the approach a road map that would require success on several fronts: a sustained, 14-day decline in new coronavirus cases and hospitalization rates; expanded testing; a robust ability to trace people who have had contact to those infected with the virus; and an increased availability of places, such as hotels, where people who are sick with the virus can remain in isolation, free of charge.
“A plan that is needlessly rushed,” he said, “will needlessly fail.”“A plan that is needlessly rushed,” he said, “will needlessly fail.”
When pressed on the timing of a reopening, he was noncommittal, but said he expected it would be measured in weeks, not months. When pressed on the timing of a phased-in reopening, he was noncommittal, but suggested it could come by Memorial Day, the unofficial start to summer at the Jersey Shore.
“I want to see the shore humming throughout the summer,” he said.“I want to see the shore humming throughout the summer,” he said.
Still, social distancing is likely to be the norm throughout the summer, including on beaches, he said. Still, social distancing is likely to be the norm for months to come, including on beaches, he said.
He said a commission would be announced on Tuesday that will be responsible for guiding the decision-making about what reopens, and when. The reopening, he cautioned, would not necessarily mirror the slow wave of shutdowns that began in mid-March. He said a commission whose members would be announced on Tuesday will be responsible for guiding the decision-making. The reopening, he cautioned, would not necessarily mirror the slow wave of shutdowns that began in mid-March.
“Don’t expect a LIFO strategy — last in, first out,” he said.“Don’t expect a LIFO strategy — last in, first out,” he said.
Mr. Murphy gave few specifics about what sectors of the economy might be first to reopen, but he said his “bias” was toward making decisions that applied statewide, not region by region. Mr. Murphy, a Democrat, gave few specifics about what sectors of the economy might be first to reopen, but he said his “bias” was toward making decisions that applied statewide, not region by region.
New Jersey has had the second highest number of cases of the coronavirus in the country, behind only New York. As of Monday, at least 6, 044 people had died with Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, and more than 111,000 people had tested positive.New Jersey has had the second highest number of cases of the coronavirus in the country, behind only New York. As of Monday, at least 6, 044 people had died with Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, and more than 111,000 people had tested positive.
Without a larger infusion of federal money, New Jersey’s finances remain bleak, Mr. Murphy said, leaving the state potentially unable to pay public sector workers.Without a larger infusion of federal money, New Jersey’s finances remain bleak, Mr. Murphy said, leaving the state potentially unable to pay public sector workers.
“That’s the sort of Armageddon that we’re looking at,” he said on CNBC.“That’s the sort of Armageddon that we’re looking at,” he said on CNBC.
By last week, a staggering 858,000 residents had filed for unemployment benefits, up from 84,000 for the same time period last year. Many others were still having trouble filing as the system was bogged down by antiquated technology and extraordinarily high usage. By last week, a staggering 858,000 residents had filed for unemployment benefits, up from 84,000 for the same time period last year. Many others were still having trouble filing; the system remained bogged down by antiquated technology and extraordinarily high usage.
If schools were to reopen, the governor said there would most likely be rules in place related to limiting large assemblies and requiring students and teachers to wear masks.If schools were to reopen, the governor said there would most likely be rules in place related to limiting large assemblies and requiring students and teachers to wear masks.
He said he expected steps toward reopening the economy would be done in concert with neighboring states, but not in lock-step.He said he expected steps toward reopening the economy would be done in concert with neighboring states, but not in lock-step.
“You’re going to see a deep amount of coordination,” Mr. Murphy said on CNBC.“You’re going to see a deep amount of coordination,” Mr. Murphy said on CNBC.
He added, “I don’t think you’ll see us taking in each case identical steps, but I think you’ll see our steps harmonized.”He added, “I don’t think you’ll see us taking in each case identical steps, but I think you’ll see our steps harmonized.”
Mr. Murphy’s announcement came a day after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo offered a similarly broad blueprint for lifting New York’s lockdown after May 15, when his order shutting down the state is set to expire. Mr. Cuomo said “low-risk” businesses like construction and manufacturing might begin to reopen in parts of the state that were less affected by the virus.Mr. Murphy’s announcement came a day after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo offered a similarly broad blueprint for lifting New York’s lockdown after May 15, when his order shutting down the state is set to expire. Mr. Cuomo said “low-risk” businesses like construction and manufacturing might begin to reopen in parts of the state that were less affected by the virus.
The head of New Jersey’s Republican Party, Douglas J. Steinhardt, criticized the lack of specifics in Mr. Murphy’s announcement, as well as the absence of any mention of the tough choices that may be ahead, including the need to furlough state workers and cut the budget.
“He offered nothing new,” Mr. Steinhardt said. “It’s the same stuff he’s been talking about: Appoint a commission and go to the federal government and beg for money.”
He also questioned Mr. Murphy’s decision to allow Representative Tom Malinowski, a Democrat running for re-election in a swing district, to speak at the briefing rather than the director of the Department of Labor, which has been besieged by unemployment claims.
“He turned what was supposed to be an information session into a political pitch,” Mr. Steinhardt said.
Federal guidelines released by the White House 10 days ago advised states that they could move into limited reopening after meeting certain criteria, including two weeks of sustained downward trends in documented cases of Covid-19 and reduced strain on hospitals.Federal guidelines released by the White House 10 days ago advised states that they could move into limited reopening after meeting certain criteria, including two weeks of sustained downward trends in documented cases of Covid-19 and reduced strain on hospitals.
In New Jersey, where only residents with fevers and persistent coughs have been able to get tested, that threshold remains a hurdle. The rate of those who tested positive for the virus has been hovering at about 43 percent, well above the 10 percent recommended by the the World Health Organization before easing quarantine restrictions. In New Jersey, where only residents with fevers and persistent coughs have been able to get tested, that threshold remains a hurdle. The rate of those who tested positive for the virus has been hovering at about 43 percent, well above the 10 percent recommended by the World Health Organization before an ease in quarantine restrictions.
Mr. Murphy has said that he expected the state’s testing ability to expand greatly in the coming weeks as Rutgers University rolls out its newly approved saliva test more broadly. The test does not require a nasal swab, making it easier and less dangerous for health care workers to administer.Mr. Murphy has said that he expected the state’s testing ability to expand greatly in the coming weeks as Rutgers University rolls out its newly approved saliva test more broadly. The test does not require a nasal swab, making it easier and less dangerous for health care workers to administer.
On Monday, he said he expected the state to be able to double its testing capacity by the end of next month.On Monday, he said he expected the state to be able to double its testing capacity by the end of next month.
Mr. Murphy’s steps toward establishing a blueprint for a phased reopening comes as other states have been more aggressive about such plans. Mr. Murphy’s step toward establishing a blueprint for a phased reopening comes as other states have been more aggressive about such plans.
In Georgia, close-contact retail businesses like barbers and tattoo parlors were allowed to open on Friday. Areas where large numbers of people congregate, such as movie theaters, were expected to accept customers on Monday, though mayors of large cities like Atlanta and Augusta have resisted Gov. Brian Kemp’s call for reopening.In Georgia, close-contact retail businesses like barbers and tattoo parlors were allowed to open on Friday. Areas where large numbers of people congregate, such as movie theaters, were expected to accept customers on Monday, though mayors of large cities like Atlanta and Augusta have resisted Gov. Brian Kemp’s call for reopening.
Michael Egenton, the chief lobbyist for the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, said the group was eager to see the state begin to reopen. “Every day a business is closed hurts their bottom line,” he said.
But Mr. Egenton added, “We want to make sure we don’t see a huge spike happen, or another wave, because we pushed too fast, too hard.”