Gov. Murphy Extends NJ COVID Public Health Emergency, Cases Peak

NEW JERSEY –Gov. Phil Murphy on Saturday extended New Jersey's public health emergency amid the coronavirus crisis for the seventh time as the state reported its highest daily case number in five months.

Murphy extended the coronavirus outbreak's public health emergency for another 30 days, saying that New Jersey is "not out of the woods" as it continues to deal with a sharp rise in cases and fatalities that have been reported over the past few weeks.

The declaration means the state will continue to have the authority to order new shutdowns and take similar extraordinary acts if the virus resurges, as it has done in other states.

Murphy made the announcement as he also revealed that New Jersey has 1,994 new cases – the highest daily total since May 4th, when there were 2,494. He also reported eight more confirmed deaths (see daily case totals below).

“Today’s new COVID-19 case count marks our highest daily figure since May,” said Murphy. “As we face a steep increase in cases, it could not be more important to ensure we have access to all available resources.

Murphy has opposed a "reversal" in reopenings of the state's economy and schools, but he has said that he would put a halt to those efforts – such as expanding indoor dining – if the situation continues to get worse.

"Keeping New Jerseyans safe is our highest priority, today and every day," he added. "We are again extending the public health emergency in order to do exactly that.”

This past week, Murphy and Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli outlined New Jersey's recent rise in coronavirus numbers and their impact:

• The daily coronavirus death toll in New Jersey hit 18 on both Wednesday and Thursday, the highest since July 29th.

• Daily fatalities reached double-digits for the fourth day in a row on Friday, the first time that's happened since July 29-Aug. 1.

• New Jersey's case total also topped 1,000 for the seventh day in a row on Saturday, the first time that's happened since May 16-22.

• Murphy said on Friday that the positivity rate is more than double what it was two months ago – 5.28 percent – and the transmission rate continues to be above the too-high 1.0 level (1.17). That means anyone with the coronavirus is likely spreading the virus to more than one other person, a sign that the disease is community-spread.

• Hospitalizations are also over 800 for the first time in three months – 852 – and case totals are more than double of what they were a month ago, Murphy said.

"The numbers we're getting day-to-day are sobering," Murphy said. "They are constant reminders that not only are we not out of the woods, but we also have to find a way to combat our pandemic fatigue and remain vigilant."

For the full text of Executive Order No. 191, click here.

Here is a look at new coronavirus cases by day:

• October 24: 1,994

• October 23: 1,139

• October 22: 1,182

• October 21: 1,062

• October 20: 1,036

• October 19: 1,192

• October 18: 1,282

• October 17: 958

• October 16: 823

• October 15: 973

• October 14: 953

• October 13: 993

• October 12: 478

• October 11: 751

• October 10: 901

• October 9: 881

• October 8: 1,301

• October 7: 514

• October 6: 651

• October 5: 522

• October 4: 637

• October 3: 957

• October 2: 796

• October 1: 663

• September 30: 722

• September 29: 505

• September 28: 561

• September 27: 712

• September 26: 760

• September 25: 612

• September 24: 588

• September 23: 430

• September 22: 457

• September 21: 396

• September 20: 457

• September 19: 489

• September 18: 519

• September 17: 617

• September 16: 447

• September 15: 498

• September 14: 346

• September 13: 306

• September 12: 487

• September 11: 518

• September 10: 507

• September 9: 356

• September 8: 284

• September 7: 344

• September 6: 360

• September 5: 370

• September 4: 478

• September 3: 455

• September 2: 329

• September 1: 365

• August 31: 352

• August 30: 306

• August 29: 388

• August 28: 372

• August 27: 374

• August 26: 288

• August 25: 346

• August 24: 225

• August 23: 288

• August 22: 427

• August 21: 313

• August 20: 302

• August 19: 399

• August 18: 400

• August 17: 316

• August 16: 329

• August 15: 464

• August 14: 585

• August 13: 699

• August 12: 484

• August 11: 498

• August 10: 258

• August 9: 378

• August 8: 379

• August 7: 384

• August 6: 411

• August 5: 378

• August 4: 416

• August 3: 264

• August 2: 331

• August 1: 393

• July 31: 699

• July 30: 261

• July 29: 489

• July 28: 565

• July 27: 446

• July 26: 512

• July 25: 547

• July 24: 488

• July 23: 344

• July 22: 390

• July 21: 424

• July 20: 177

• July 19: 144

• July 18: 309

• July 17: 202

• July 16: 254

• July 15: 396

• July 14: 423

• July 13: 231

• July 12: 349

• July 11: 438

• July 10: 367

• July 9: 354

• July 8: 335

• July 7: 310

• July 6: 216

• July 5: 398

• July 4: 303

• July 3: 386

• July 2: 539

• July 1: 423

• June 30: 461

• June 29: 156

• June 28: 354

• June 27: 347

• June 26: 524

• June 25: 406

• June 24: 317

• June 23: 382

• June 22: 359

• June 21: 411

• June 20: 446

• June 19: 516

• June 18: 442

• June 17: 330

• June 16: 470

• June 15: 274

• June 14: 305

• June 13: 523

• June 12: 495

• June 11: 539

• June 10: 611

• June 9: 375

• June 8: 356

• June 7: 426

• June 6: 606

• June 5: 864

• June 4: 603

• June 3: 652

• June 2: 708

• June 1: 509

• May 31: 868

• May 30: 910

• May 29: 1,117

• May 28: 1,261

• May 27: 970

• May 26: 703

• May 25: 965

• May 24: 1,065

• May 23: 443

• May 22: 1,394

• May 21: 1,304

• May 20: 1,670

• May 19: 1,055

• May 18: 1,735

• May 17: 1,272

• May 16: 1,239

• May 15: 1,297

• May 14: 1,216

• May 13: 1,028

• May 12: 898

• May 11: 1,453

• May 10: 1,503

• May 9: 1,759

• May 8: 1,985

• May 7: 1,827

• May 6: 1,513

• May 5: 2,494

• May 4: 1,621

• May 3: 3,144

• May 2: 2,912

• May 1: 2,651

• April 30: 2,633

• April 29: 2,481

• April 28: 2,887

• April 27: 2,146

• April 26: 3,730

• April 25: 3,457

• April 24: 3,047

• April 23: 4,427

• April 22: 3,551

• April 21: 3,644

• April 20: 3,528

• April 19: 3,915

• April 18: 3,026

• April 17: 3,250

• April 16: 4,391

• April 15: 2,625

• April 14: 4,049

• April 13: 3,219

• April 12: 3,733

• April 11: 3,599

• April 10: 3,627

• April 9: 3,748

• April 8: 3,088

• April 7: 3,361

• April 6: 3,663

• April 5: 3,482

• April 4: 4,331

• April 3: 4,372

• April 2: 3,489

• April 1: 3,649

• March 31: 2,196

• March 30: 3,347

• March 29: 2,316

• March 28: 2,289

• March 27: 1,982

• March 26: 2,492

• March 25: 736

• March 24: 846

• March 23: 935

• March 22: 590

• March 21: 442

• March 20: 155

• March 19: 318

• March 18: 162

• March 17: 89

• March 16: 80

• March 15: 31

• March 14: 19

• March 13: 21

• March 12: 21

• March 11: 8

• March 10: 4

• March 9: 5

• March 8: 6

• March 7: 1

• March 6: 1

• March 5: 1

• March 4: 1

Here is a look at coronavirus deaths by day:

• October 24: 8

• October 23: 11

• October 22: 18

• October 21: 18

• October 20: 13

• October 19: 4

• October 18: 7

• October 17: 2

• October 16: 5

• October 15: 6

• October 14: 9

• October 13: 7

• October 12: 1

• October 11: 3

• October 10: 7

• October 9: 6

• October 8: 11

• October 7: 4

• October 6: 9

• October 5: 2

• October 4: 1

• October 3: 4

• October 2: 4

• October 1: 5

• September 30: 9

• September 29: 10

• September 28: 1

• September 27: 3

• September 26: 6

• September 25: 7

• September 24: 10

• September 23: 7

• September 22: 7

• September 21: 2

• September 20: 3

• September 19: 3

• September 18: 5

• September 17: 3

• September 16: 9

• September 15: 9

• September 14: 3

• September 13: 4

• September 12: 4

• September 11: 9

• September 10: 5

• September 9: 7

• September 8: 5

• September 7: 2

• September 6: 4

• September 5: 7

• September 4: 7

• September 3: 9

• September 2: 11

• September 1: 7

• August 31: 8

• August 30: 4

• August 29: 4

• August 28: 9

• August 27: 7

• August 26: 11

• August 25: 5

• August 24: 3

• August 23: 3

• August 22: 3

• August 21: 13

• August 20: 8

• August 19: 11

• August 18: 10

• August 17: 4

• August 16: 4

• August 15: 7

• August 14: 10

• August 13: 8

• August 12: 9

• August 11: 14

• August 10: 4

• August 9: 5

• August 8: 9

• August 7: 12

• August 6: 8

• August 5: 8

• August 4: 11

• August 3: 10

• August 2: 6

• August 1: 11

• July 31: 10

• July 30: 16

• July 29: 18

• July 28: 24

• July 27: 17

• July 26: 11

• July 25: 16

• July 24: 36

• July 23: 23

• July 22: 24

• July 21: 21

• July 20: 9

• July 19: 11

• July 18: 16

• July 17: 20

• July 16: 32

• July 15: 27

• July 14: 28

• July 13: 22

• July 12: 16

• July 11: 49

• July 10: 31

• July 9: 28

• July 8: 53

• July 7: 52

• July 6: 20

• July 5: 23

• July 4: 25

• July 3: 58

• July 2: 27

• July 1: 45

• June 30: 47

• June 29: 18

• June 28: 30

• June 27: 36

• June 26: 44

• June 25: 26

• June 24: 48

• June 23: 57

• June 22: 27

• June 21: 17

• June 20: 25

• June 19: 37

• June 18: 38

• June 17: 47

• June 16: 51

• June 15: 52

• June 14: 40

• June 13: 103

• June 12: 48

• June 11: 70

• June 10: 74

• June 9: 91

• June 8: 40

• June 7: 79

• June 6: 60

• June 5: 79

• June 4: 92

• June 3: 112

• June 2: 51

• June 1: 27

• May 31: 66

• May 30: 113

• May 29: 131

• May 28: 66

• May 27: 148

• May 26: 54

• May 25: 16

• May 24: 52

• May 23: 96

• May 22: 146

• May 21: 98

• May 20: 168

• May 19: 162

• May 18: 83

• May 17: 107

• May 16: 116

• May 15: 201

• May 14: 244

• May 13: 197

• May 12: 198

• May 11: 59

• May 10: 140

• May 9: 166

• May 8: 162

• May 7: 254

• May 6: 308

• May 5: 334

• May 4: 45

• May 3: 137

• May 2: 205

• May 1: 311

• April 30: 460

• April 29: 329

• April 28: 402

• April 27: 106

• April 26: 75

• April 25: 249

• April 24: 253

• April 23: 307

• April 22: 314

• April 21: 379

• April 20: 177

• April 19: 132

• April 18: 231

• April 17: 323

• April 16: 362

• April 15: 351

• April 14: 365

• April 13: 94

• April 12: 168

• April 11: 251

• April 10: 233

• April 9: 198

• April 8: 275

• April 7: 232

• April 6: 86

• April 5: 71

• April 4: 200

• April 3: 113

• April 2: 182

• April 1: 91

• March 31: 69

• March 30: 37

• March 29: 21

• March 28: 32

• March 27: 27

• March 26: 19

• March 25: 18

• March 24: 17

• March 23: 7

• March 22: 4

• March 21: 5

• March 20: 2

• March 19: 4

• March 18: 3

• March 17: 0

• March 16: 1

• March 15: 0

• March 14: 1

• March 13: 0

• March 12: 0

• March 11: 0

• March 10: 1

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This article originally appeared on the Point Pleasant Patch