Politics & Government
Ex-Gov. Chris Christie: Time For NJ Reopen In Coronavirus Crisis
"In the end, you're going to have to tell them that people are going to die," former NJ Gov. Chris Christie said. He thinks NJ should reopen
NEW JERSEY – "In the end, you're going to have to tell them that people are going to die," former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said.
Christie, who served as New Jersey governor from 2010 to 2018, said this week that it's time for New Jersey to reopen and that the Garden State will ultimately have to deal with the tragic consequences of the coronavirus outbreak to preserve "the American way of life."
"I'd be reopening," Christie told CNN's Dana Bash on her podcast.
Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Christie made the statement as New Jersey's cases have surged past 100,000 and deaths have exceeded 7,000. Gov. Phil Murphy has insisted that the state will not reopen until New Jersey has the capacity to test tens of thousands of people each day and trace the cases. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know
Christie said he would have restrictions with a reopening, such as: reducing capacity at businesses, having temperature checks and requiring people to wear masks at stores.
Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Christie said he also wouldn't allow sporting events and concerts, and he would make sure to protect the vulnerable and work to keep them inside.
The former governor said it doesn't make sense to keep small businesses closed when they sell many of the same things as Walmart and Target.
"If Trader Joe's and Walmart and Target can make it safe, then the corner store can make it safe too," he said.
Even as Bash told him that the amount of death across the country is equal to having a "9-11 every day, Christie said, "I just don't think that (quarantining) can be sustained as a country.
Christie compared the situation to World War II when America sent people to war "knowing many of them would not come home alive."
Christie pointed to a reported incident in Egg Harbor Township where there were three one-mile long car lines to get to a food bank. He said that kind of situation will be "very difficult" for people to take.
He said it's time to strike against "paralyzing timidity rather than Churchillian boldness."
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
