PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey is joining six other Northeastern states in asking colleges to test their students for COVID-19 before they leave on their Thanksgiving breaks. Gov. Phil Murphy said he doesn’t want to risk the holiday dinner table becoming a coronavirus hotspot.
Murphy and his counterparts in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are asking colleges to provide COVID-19 testing for students as they head home for Thanksgiving.
New Jersey Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said if students are positive, they should isolate at school. And even if not, they should quarantine.
“If they haven't completed the 14-day quarantine, they can continue that quarantine period at home, but they must remain separate from their family,” she said.
The recommendation came as New Jersey reported 4,063 new cases in the last day. Murphy said 15 counties — including Atlantic, Burlington, Camden and Gloucester — had triple-digit daily increases.
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“There is no way to sugarcoat any of these numbers. They are not good and they're trending worse,” he said.
But as his new indoor gathering limit of 10 people took effect, Murphy said he wasn’t planning any further restrictions.
“No more steps that we're about to announce today or tomorrow but they all remain on the table,” he added.
The only way to slow the spread, he said, is for residents to take personal responsibility.