PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is asking the federal government to allow the transition to a Biden administration to begin so that the response to the coronavirus won't be delayed.
Murphy said planning for the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine is not something that can wait until inauguration day on Jan. 20. He said he sent the head of the General Services Administration a letter asking that the presidential transition begin with no further delay, saying "the election is over…"
"The time for politics has passed. The time for coming together to save lives is now," he said.
The state plans to receive its first 130,000 vaccine doses by Christmas, and plans to inoculate 70% of the state's population within six months.
At his coronavirus briefing, Murphy was also asked about a video taken by two women who profanely confronted him as he ate dinner outside a Red Bank restaurant on Saturday.
Murphy told reporters he's a "big boy," and he understands the hecklers' frustration in this pandemic.
"Your business is bust. You have lost somebody. Who the heck could blame you for being stressed? But let's not allow that to turn into dividing us even further," Murphy said.
The governor said after the video went viral he was humbled at the support he received, including support from Republicans.
