NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy, speaking during a news conference on Monday, made perhaps his most critical statements regarding the Trump administration’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak yet, saying that testing is “not remotely close” to where it should be as the state looks to reopen eventually. Murphy made the statement as he announced 3,528 new cases and 177 more deaths (you can watch it here, below).
The state’s total number of cases has risen to 88,806, and 4,377 people have died. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here’s What You Need To Know
Murphy said there “is no doubt” that there is a “lack of either a federal plan or real federal support for tests” and personal protective equipment that “has inhibited our testing efforts.”
“It’s still is not remotely close to what we need, particularly from the outset from the feds, to get universal testing,” he said.
Once New Jersey is able to steps to ramp up and expand testing, Murphy said, “we will be in a better place to capture and contain COVID-19.”
But, while Murphy credited FEMA and Vice President Mike Pence for being responsive, the governor said: “We haven’t gotten a fraction of what we’ve wanted.”
Murphy seemed to take issue with President Trump’s comments on Sunday that there is “tremendous capacity” for testing.
“We don’t see it that way as it relates to testing,” Murphy said. “There is not, as far as we can tell, plenty to go around. We’ve turned over every stone we can find. We need more capacity, more materials.”
Murphy said his administration has had to rely on data, such as hospitalization numbers that are on the decline, to “help inform our decisions as we look toward a reopening strategy as we look to prepare for a spike that will surely come when we do reopen.”
Murphy said New Jersey is also prepared for “a potential recurrence of this virus later this year.”
Reopening the economy right now, Murphy said, would “backfire” and there would “no customers at our stores because people would be fearful” of spreading the virus to their families and children.
New Jersey is showing signs of progress in “breaking the back” of the upward coronavirus curve. Read more: 5 Big Signs Of Progress In NJ Coronavirus Outbreak
During the news conference, Murphy also paid tribute to New Jersey residents who passed away:
Watch Murphy here:
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Here’s what else you should know:
Murphy issued a stay-at-home order, closing all non-essential business at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 21. Read more: Gov. Murphy Announces NJ ‘Stay-At-Home’ Order Due To CoronavirusMurphy, speaking during a Thursday, April 16 press conference, said schools will remain closed through May 15. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Schools Shut Through May 15 In Coronavirus CrisisMurphy ordered stores across New Jersey on Wednesday, April 8 to require shoppers to wear face coverings or masks. Here’s how you can get yours, and how the new rule will be enforced. Read more: NJ Shoppers Must Wear Masks: Where To Get Them, How It’s EnforcedHere are 10 resources for you and your family to utilize as you navigate through the outbreak: Unemployment, Tests, Food: 10 NJ Resources In Coronavirus CrisisNew Jersey’s courts suspended all new jury trials until further notice, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner said on Thursday, March 12. Read more: Coronavirus Throws Monkey Wrench Into New Jersey Court SystemMurphy said during a live press conference on Wednesday, March 25 that he’s ordering many day care centers to shut amid the coronavirus outbreak. Read more: Gov. Murphy To Shut Many Day Care Centers Amid Coronavirus CrisisThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel advisory for New Jersey. Read more: CDC Travel Advisory For NJ: No Coronavirus Travel Ban From TrumpNew Jersey residents are expected to start receiving stimulus payments soon. Here’s what you need to do beforehand. Read more: Coronavirus Economic Stimulus Payments: What You Need To Do In NJOn Friday, March 27, Murphy allowed more types of New Jersey businesses – including gun sellers – to operate in the coronavirus outbreak. What’s open and closed now? Read more: What’s Open, Closed? More NJ Business To Operate Amid CoronavirusMurphy announced on Tuesday, April 7 that state and county parks will close. Read more: Gov. Murphy Closes Parks On NJ Coronavirus Crisis’s Deadliest DayHere are four urgent tasks New Jersey wants you to do during the coronavirus outbreak, including wearing a mask. And here’s why. Read more: Wear A Mask! 4 Things NJ Wants You To Do In Coronavirus Outbreak
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.