New Jersey’s Murphy warns against large Thanksgiving dinners – RADIO.COM

TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) — Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday urged New Jerseyans not to visit out-of-state relatives on Thanksgiving — or invite them to dinner in-state.

New Jersey has seen an uptick in COVID-19 outbreaks linked to indoor events, including family gatherings, Murphy said at a news briefing Thursday afternoon.

Residents planning to celebrate Thanksgiving should “take stock of how many people you may be inviting to your Thanksgiving table,” he said.

“We do not want a Thanksgiving dinner to turn tragic because someone unwittingly exposed a large number of their family members to the coronavirus,” he said. “This is not the year to plan to visit out-of-state relatives, or to invite them to New Jersey.”

New Jerseyans who are planning to celebrate should consider moving their festivities outside, if possible, using fire pits or patio heaters for warmth, Murphy said.

“While we are seeing more people being vigilant in public… it is when you let your guard down in your own home that things can go awry,” he said.

Murphy reported 973 new COVID-19 cases and six new deaths on Thursday, bringing the state’s case total to 216,994 and its death toll to 14,408.

Ocean, Bergen and Essex Counties reported the most new cases, with 108, 107, and 108 new cases, respectively.

As of Wednesday, 733 people in the state were hospitalized with confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases, 178 of whom were in intensive care and 34 of whom were on ventilators.

The governor on Thursday also extended the state’s moratorium on electric, gas and water utility shutoffs through March 15, 2021.

Its moratorium on internet and voice service shutoffs, meanwhile, has been extended through Nov. 15 of this year for the general population, and through March 15 of next year for households with school-aged children who need internet connectivity for remote learning.