PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Gov. Phil Murphy announced Tuesday 3,361 new positive tests results, 44,416. The state also had 232 additional coronavirus-related deaths, the highest death toll to date in the state, bringing the state total to 1,232 deaths.
The governor also announced he will be signing four executive orders:
1. The governor will extend the public health emergency initially declared on March 9 by 30 days.
2. All state parks and forests, as well as county parks, will be closed, as Murphy said officials have seen too many instances of groups of people gathering and not following social distancing guidelines in parks. As for municipal parks, local officials will make the decision on whether or not to close them.
3. Certain deadlines for school districts with April elections that have been postponed to May 12 will be extended.
4. 2019-2020 school year assessment requirements for eighth grade and 12th grade students will be waived.
Murphy said a curve may be flattening a little, but that is not any reason to let down your guard.
And about half of the state's nursing homes are now reporting cases of COVID-19, and there are concerns of staffing levels in those facilities.
"They feel they don't have sufficient resources or sufficient staff to take care of their patients. So we decided that we have to develop a statewide plan to assist the nursing homes that are experiencing outbreaks and also shortage of staff and equipment," Health Commissioner Judith Persichelli said.
KYW Newsrado's David Madden contributed to this report.
