TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) — New Jersey state employees are reportedly due in office starting Oct. 18 — over a month after the initially scheduled return date due to Gov. Phil Murphy's vaccine or weekly testing mandate for state workers.
NJ.com reports the delay from Sept. 7 came after Murphy announced the new mandate also set to begin Oct. 18.
Employees are currently required to spend at least two days a week in their offices.
Murphy spokesman Alex Altman told the outlet that the wait comes amid surging COVID-19 cases and "rampant spread of the delta variant."
"The state is taking aggressive steps to protect the state workforce while continuing to provide vital government services,” he said.
Altman added employees must continue to appear in office at a minimum of 2-3 times per week until that October deadline.
New Jersey reported over 1,700 confirmed COVID-19 cases Thursday — a day after the Garden State surpassed 1,000 hospitalized patients for the first time since May.