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UPDATED: 3:31 p.m.
New Jersey health officials reported 2,494 new confirmed positive COVID-19 test results. The statewide total stands at 130,593. And Murphy lamented the report of 334 more deaths from the illness in the last 24 hours. New Jersey has lost a total of 8,244 people to the coronavirus.
Just in South Jersey, nearly 12,000 people have tested positive, with the death toll now at 520.
However, Murphy said, the state has shown a slowing, county by county, in the rate of doubling of new cases. In half of the state, he said, it takes more than 30 days for the number of cases to double.
Murphy said 232 people were released from hospitals since Monday, not including deaths — but there were 385 new hospitalizations.
So, the governor said, while he sympathizes with New Jersey residents who want to relax or end social restrictions and get the state’s economy up and running, he’s keeping his eyes on the 385 people who entered a hospital in the last 24 hours, many of whom, the data suggest, will not make it back out.
“Nobody is itching to get the state back up and running more than yours truly,” he said, “but we have to go about it right, whether you like it or not.”
The number of COVID-19 cases coming from long-term care facilities continues to increase in New Jersey and other states. To try and meet the challenge of enforcing protections for vulnerable populations and the people who care for them, Murphy announced a review of long term care facilities to be conducted be the attorney general’s office and the state’s health department.
Murphy also announced that the Division of Consumer Affairs would begin issuing temporary licenses to recent graduates of nursing, physician’s assistant, pharmacy and respiratory care programs to fill out the front lines in the war against the virus.
He also announced that, following new guidance from the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, the state has been given more flexibility in how to use the $2.4 billion it received through the federal CARES Act.
“We will put this money to good use for our first responders and our small businesses,” Murphy said. “And because of this guidance, we’ll be able to fill an immediate need to provide the funding we had budgeted for our schools and educators.”
And, he renewed his call to Congress to send more direct relief to states to help them stay on the road to recovery after the pandemic has subsided.
Reopening demands
Murphy pushed back at those clamoring to reopen the state, saying that he is hearing “morning, noon and night” about reopening nonessential businesses, as well as beaches ahead of the Memorial Day weekend.
“Nobody is itching more to get the state back up and running more than yours truly and the team up here, but we gotta do it right. We gotta do it responsibly. We gotta do it safely and we are committed to that whether, folks, frankly, whether you like that or not,” Murphy said.
Murphy has laid out a six-point plan for reopening, which calls for consistent positive trends, which the state has not yet seen with deaths and new cases. He hasn't set a date for reopening.
Nursing home investigations
New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said Tuesday his office is continuing to investigate nursing homes that have had a disproportionate number of COVID-19-related deaths.
Grewal said he wasn't ready to announce any charges, but unveiled a website where people could leave tips about possible illegality: covid19.nj.gov/LTC.
He concedes this could be the equivalent of a 500-year flood, but if there was wrongdoing, they want to know.
The investigation stemmed from a request from Murphy after news broke last month of a “makeshift morgue” at the state's largest facility in Andover, New Jersey.
Meanwhile, there’s a need for more front-line health care workers.
“We’ll soon begin granting temporary emergency licenses to recent graduates of certain health care education and training programs before they’ve completed all the testing required for licensure,” said Grewal. “We’re taking this step because we know there are many future health care workers who stand ready and willing to help us but they can’t simply because the centers where they would take the required tests are closed during the pandemic.”
No more marbles
New Jersey has lost its marbles over the coronavirus. The National Marbles Tournament, which is held in Wildwood, is being canceled this year for only the second time in its nearly 100-year history.
The only previous cancellation was in 1944 and 1945 during World War II.
Organizers are planning a virtual marbles event June 21-25, open to children ages 7 to 14. Registration can be done through the website nationalmarblestournament.org. They hope to return the championship event to Wildwood in 2021.
Beaches
The mayor of North Wildwood said the Wildwoods Boardwalk, as well as beaches and parks, will reopen on Friday for runners and bikers.
Social distancing guidelines still apply.
Short-term rentals can also resume May 26.
The mayors in Stone Harbor and Avalon announced earlier this week people can use the seven-mile beach for exercise starting Friday.
Cape May began letting people on the beach and boardwalk for physical activity last weekend.
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