Gov. Murphy: Coronavirus May 'Spill Meaningfully Into The Summer'

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy offered some insight into how long the coronavirus crisis may last in New Jersey just as he was providing an update to the outbreak's statewide toll on Monday: 3,663 new cases and 86 more deaths. The numbers marked the second day in a row that the numbers were much lower than the outbreak's worst day on Saturday (you can watch it here, below).

Murphy told CNN on Sunday that the numbers are "increasingly showing this is going to spill meaningfully into the summer." He provided the answer when he was asked about the potential impact on the NFL season; both the New York Giants and Jets play in New Jersey, and preseason begins in August.

"That could impact, obviously, the NFL season. It will impact a whole lot of lives," Murphy said, adding: "It is not going to get over in the next two months."

Murphy added that he doesn't have a "crystal ball" but "this is certainly going to be a huge challenge for us, April through May, there's no question," and the next two weeks could tell more. He expects New Jersey to hit its "apex" of cases within the next two weeks.

Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said New Jersey hospitals will likely have their largest amount of activity within the next two weeks.

Murphy also projected the case number at its peak, and provided best- and worst-case scenarios of when New Jersey should see its most cases. He also predicted how many cases New Jersey will be handling by its peak, which could come by mid-May.

Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Coronavirus Case Peak Anywhere From 86K To 509K

Persichilli identified the counties and their death toll on Monday:

• Essex County: 14
• Bergen County: 11
• Passaic County: 11
• Ocean County: 9
• Middlesex County 7
• Union County: 7
• Hudson County: 5
• Morris County: 5
• Somerset County: 5
• Monmouth County: 4
• Mercer County: 3
• Sussex County: 2
• Cape May: 1
• Warren County: 1

Persichilli provided a county-by-county breakdown of the new cases:

• Atlantic County 10
• Bergen 570
• Burlington 99
• Camden 90
• Cape May 8
• Cumberland 10
• Essex 369
• Gloucester 30
• Hudson 340
• Hunterdon 21
• Mercer 71
• Middlesex 299
• Monmouth 178
• Morris 122
• Ocean 187
• Passaic 419
• Salem 3
• Somerset 51
• Sussex 24
• Union 419
• Warren 19

The update comes as the number of cases continues to rise in New Jersey, through there was also a decline in the number of patients diagnosed from Saturday, when Murphy reported 200 more deaths, to Sunday, when the governer reported 71 deaths.

Murphy said New Jersey is seeing a decline in day-to-day increases in cases from 24 percent on March 30 to 12 percent on Monday.

"While we are not anywhere close to being out of the woods as of yet, we are clearly on the right path to get there," Murphy said. He showed a graph to help explain his point (story continues below graph):

The number of cases has risen to 41,090, and 1,003 people have died Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Watch Murphy here:

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

Here's what else you should know:

• State health officials said they believe the virus is "community-spread" in New Jersey. "Community-spread indicates that the coronavirus is amongst us," Persichilli announced. Read more: Coronavirus May Be 'Community-Spread' In NJ
• Murphy issued a stay-at-home order, closing all non-essential business at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 21. Read more: Gov. Murphy Announces NJ 'Stay-At-Home' Order Due To Coronavirus
• On Monday, March 16, Murphy announced that all schools would close on Tuesday, March 17. Read more: NJ Schools Will Close Due To Coronavirus Outbreak: Gov. Murphy
• Here are 10 resources for you and your family to utilize as you navigate through the outbreak: Unemployment, Tests, Food: 10 NJ Resources In Coronavirus Crisis
• Murphy issued an executive order on Thursday, March 19 to ensure voters can exercise their right to vote without risking their health and safety. Read more: Coronavirus Alters NJ Election Procedure, Moves Election Dates
• The first person in New Jersey to die of the coronavirus was reported on Tuesday, March 10. Read more: First NJ Coronavirus Death, 4 New Cases: Governor
• New Jersey's courts suspended all new jury trials until further notice, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner said on Thursday, March 12. Read more: Coronavirus Throws Monkey Wrench Into New Jersey Court System
• State Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner announced on Saturday, March 14 that municipal court sessions will be suspended.
• The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission said it's also closing temporarily. Read more: New Jersey MVC Shuts Down Because Of Coronavirus
• A new report from ProPublica says New Jersey hospitals would be hard pressed to meet demand – even in a best-case scenario – if the coronavirus outbreak surges. Read more: NJ Hospitals Lack Beds For Coronavirus Surge: Report
• Four members of the same New Jersey family died from the coronavirus, according to March 19 reports. Read more: 4 In Same Family, Including 3 In NJ, Die Of Coronavirus: Reports
• The deadline for Americans to file federal taxes was moved from April 15 to July 15, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin tweeted on Friday, March 20. Read more: Federal Tax Day Postponed To July 15 Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
• After two FEMA sites opened, officials said five more counties will be getting coronavirus testing sites. Read more: Coronavirus Drive-Through Testing Sites To Open In 5 NJ Counties

How It Spreads

The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person. Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others. That is why CDC recommends that these patients be isolated either in the hospital or at home (depending on how sick they are) until they are better and no longer pose a risk of infecting others.

There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19.

While the best way to prevent illness is to avoid virus exposure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention always recommends taking preventive actions to contain the spread of viruses. This includes:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.