NJ Coronavirus Update: Gov. Murphy Considers Curfew, 31 New Cases – Ocean City, NJ Patch

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy said on Sunday that New Jersey is considering a curfew now that the number of coronavirus cases has risen to 98, and two people have died. Thirty-one new cases were announced on Sunday.

Murphy also said New Jersey is still not ready for a statewide shutdown of schools, but he said he will likely take that action on Monday “with 99 percent certainty.” Hundreds of districts have already closed. Read more: Coronavirus NJ School Closures: Here’s The Latest (UPDATED)

A list of new towns also identified cases: Easthampton, Ridgewood, Linden, Caldwell, Freehold, Demarest, West Orange and North Caldwell

Murphy said a curfew is “something we’re looking at very seriously.” As for details on a possible curfew and state school shutdown, Murphy told reporters during a 2 p.m conference call: “Stay tuned tomorrow.” Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here’s What You Need To Know

“It’s just not time to panic,” Murphy said.

A statewide curfew would follow similar steps that several communities have already taken, including Hoboken, Asbury Park and Teaneck, where restaurants and bars have to close at a certain hour.

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Murphy said drastic actions require communities to be fully prepared. About 20 percent of New Jersey’s school students, for example, are not equipped yet for distance learning, he said. He wants to make sure they are before he closes all schools, Murphy said.

Murphy said the state has been working 24 hours a day to deal with the unintended consequences of a statewide school shutdown, noting the implications also on daycare and child care. He said a number of children also depend on school for their meals.

Nevertheless, Murphy said New Jersey is still “far too in business-as-usual mode” and “that has got to change.”

“We have to shake the state from the business-as-usual mode,” he said.

Murphy said the state is also considering having state employees work from home beginning on Wednesday, and changing election procedures such as imposing new petition submission rules and promoting vote-by-mail.

Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, meanwhile, said the new cases in New Jersey on Sunday involved nine women and 22 men, ages 30 to 77. One of the new cases involved a woman in Monmouth County who died; some overlapping cases were removed from the list.

She also broke down the new cases by county:

  • Bergen 7
  • Hudson 6
  • Monmouth 4
  • Essex 4
  • Passaic 3
  • Union 3
  • Ocean 1
  • Burlington 1
  • Morris 1
  • Middlesex 1

Persichilli also spoke about the second person in New Jersey who died because of the illness, which was announced on Saturday. Read more: 2nd Death Due To Coronavirus In New Jersey

She said the person may be connected to a family gathering in Monmouth County, where multiple people tested positive for the coronavirus, as well as the first fatal case that involved a man in Bergen County earlier this month.

The woman had a brother who was friends with the victim in Bergen County, Persichilli said. Read more: First NJ Coronavirus Death, 4 New Cases: Governor

The New Jersey Department of Corrections is also temporarily suspending visits during the outbreak. Read more: NJDOC Suspends Visitations To State Prisons and Halfway Houses

The state also said it will no longer label the positive tests as “presumptive positive” cases. They are now considered “positive” and “confirmed.”

Presumptive positive meant the person tested positive in state labs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ultimately confirms the test. So far, 100 percent of the state’s positive tests had been confirmed.

Here’s what else you should know:

How It Spreads

The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person. Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others. That is why CDC recommends that these patients be isolated either in the hospital or at home (depending on how sick they are) until they are better and no longer pose a risk of infecting others.

There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19.

While the best way to prevent illness is to avoid virus exposure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention always recommends taking preventive actions to contain the spread of viruses. This includes:

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.