Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday that he will sign an executive order allowing some nonessential businesses to reopen for curbside pickup and allowing the restart of nonessential construction as the coronavirus pandemic appears to be weakening its grip on New Jersey.
"Today we are taking the next steps down New Jersey's road back and each step that eases us down the road is being taken because public health, medical experts and the data tell us that it is now safe to do so,” Murphy said during his daily briefing in Trenton.
“This is how we transition to a safe, smart and sustainable way of life."Murphy's order would let non-essential retail stores reopen for curbside pickup only, let construction resume as long as social distancing measures and mask use continue and permit drive-thru and drive-in events such as drive-in movies and religious services as long as participants remain inside cars.
Murphy first ordered nonessential businesses closed on March 21, which sent unemployment claims skyrocketing. In fewer than two months, more than 1 million claims have been filed, overwhelming the state’s processing system and employees.
Murphy said his administration has felt the pressure to reopen some businesses, but is responding purely based on “data and science.”
“We want to be quick, but we have got to be right,” Murphy said. “Let’s not forget where we were only six weeks ago on April 6, when we first shared our worst-case projections. We were preparing, it’s hard to almost believe this now, for upward of 36,000 hospitalizations with 9,000 New Jerseyans in the ICUs and 7,500 of them connected to ventilators. But because of your hard work everybody, that never really came close.”
Murphy's order, which takes effect at 6 a.
m. Monday, comes as new coronavirus related hospitalizations are down from the virus' peak on April 13 and 14.According to state health data, total Covid-19-related hospitalizations are down by nearly half from the peak, patients in intensive care are down as are patients on ventilators. Murphy said deaths have decreased more than one-third since the peak.
Still, Murphy reported 1,028 new positive coronavirus test results from Tuesday, for a current statewide total of 141,560 since the first case was reported in early March. The number of patients being treated in hospitals stands at 4,226, with 364 new Covid-19 hospitalizations overnight. The state has also recorded another 197 deaths from Covid-19 complications, bringing the statewide total to 9,702.
Murphy said his decision to reopen some parts of the state economy is tied to an expanded testing and contact tracing regime announced Tuesday. According to state figures, 21,111 individuals have already signed up since Tuesday to assist with contract tracing.
“We can increase our stride because we are confident that the expanded and accessible testing program we outlined yesterday as well as the robust contact tracing program we are implementing will help us proactively catch and contain future cases of Covid-19 and prevent, please God, a second mass outbreak,” Murphy said.