NEWARK (1010 WINS) -- Gov. Phil Murphy said Thursday that the number of coronavirus cases in New Jersey had topped 51,000 and that deaths had climbed by 198 to surpass 1,700.
The state received 3,748 new positive cases from the previous day.
"This number is the worst of all to report to you. It does not ever get any easier on us," Murphy said. "These aren't numbers, these are people. They are our fellow New Jerseyans.
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The governor announced that currently there are 7,363 residents are hospitalized and 1,523 of these individuals are requiring intensive care.
He also added that 1,551 individuals are on ventilators.
Over the past 24 hours, 471 New Jerseyans were discharged and returned home, Murphy said.
Gov. Murphy announced Thursday, that he would be signing an executive order extending the grace period for residents who may be unable to pay their insurance premiums because of the financial hardship caused by the virus. "No New Jerseyan should lose their insurance during this emergency," he said.
On Wednesday, Murphy said he was signing an executive order that will force non-essential construction across New Jersey to stop indefinitely starting at 8 p.m. Friday.
"Exceptions include projects at our hospitals and schools, in our transportation and public utility sector, the building of affordable housing, other individual housing sites that can adhere to strict limits on the number of workers on-site, and other limited instances," Murphy said.
In an effort to reduce overcrowding at grocery stores, Murphy also ordered all essential retail to indefinitely limit the number of customers allowed in their stores to no more than 50 percent of their approved capacity.
"Additionally, customers and employees must wear face coverings," Murphy said. "Stores must also provide special shopping hours for high-risk individuals, erect physical barriers between customers and cashiers and baggers where practicable, regularly sanitize areas used by their employees and more."
Another executive order will move the state's primary elections from Tuesday, June 2 to Tuesday, July 7, Murphy said.
"Our democracy cannot be a casualty of #COVID19," Murphy tweeted. "We want to ensure that every voter can vote without endangering their health or safety."
Murphy said in-person voting may happen, but delaying voting a month will allow the state to prepare for an all-vote-by-mail election.
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