Gov. Murphy: Coming To NJ? Get Tested – And Maybe Even Quarantine

NEW JERSEY – Remember when Florida and other states basically said New Jerseyans and New Yorkers should stay away because of the coronavirus? And those from the Northeast should even quarantine once they arrive?

Now those states — such as Florida and Arizona — have had spikes and are now leading the United States in new daily cases. As a result, Gov. Phil Murphy turned the tables on those states when he was asked Tuesday about the new rising coronavirus trend across the Southeast and West.

Murphy said during a news conference that people coming to New Jersey should get tested before they get to the Garden State — and maybe even self-quarantine — to prevent a resurgence of the virus in this state.

Murphy called it a "strong request," saying: "Please get tested and quarantine accordingly."

Murphy made a point of saying that he couldn't constitutionally stop people from coming to New Jersey. But he said the idea of people coming from other coronavirus hot spots to places where the virus has been largely contained, such as the Garden State, New York and Connecticut, has been discussed.

"I'm not sure we'll necessary do this together, but it's a topic of a fair amount of back-and-forth between New York, Connecticut and ourselves," Murphy said.

Murphy left open the possibility that more action could be taken, saying his administration could "probably have something more to say about that."

"We can strongly ask you to consider one or both paths (quarantine and testing) here depending on where you come out on your test," Murphy said.

Murphy said testing should preferably happen before a person arrives and "the latest when you get here."

A short quarantine or a longer quarantine should be in order "depending on what the test comes back with," Murphy said.

A team of researchers and epidemiologists said New Jersey is one of only three states that are on track to contain COVID-19. Here are four big reasons why: Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ 'On Track' To Contain Coronavirus; Here's Why

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