Ex-Gov. Christie Would Have Opened NJ Schools, Dining Amid COVID

MENDHAM, NJ - For those wondering what the COVID-19 crisis would look like if former Gov. Chris Christie was still calling the shots, it would be different. Spoiler alert: indoor dining and schools would be open.

Speaking with Patch, Christie detailed where he agrees with current Gov. Phil Murphy's approach and where the two part ways.

"It would look a lot different than what's happened," Christie said. "You know, there're some things that the governor's done that I agree with. You know, I think the governor has appropriately advocated for resources for New Jersey and fought hard with the federal government to get our appropriate share of resources. And I have no criticism on that."

But that is where the meeting of the minds ends. Here is a peek at where the two Garden State leaders differ.

Economic Concerns

Christie said that his administration would have focused on protecting the most vulnerable but not at the expense of the economy.

"You see from contact tracing that community spread, for instance, in indoor dining in New York with only 1.4 percent of the cases," Christie said. "Why are we destroying a third of our businesses in the state, mostly restaurants, when that's a very small part of the problem?"

Christie said that the focus should be on protecting health care workers as best we can with protective equipment and looking at the elderly and making sure that they are protected, isolated, and kept away from the virus.

"And we should allow our small businesses to continue to be open," Christie said. "And New Jersey, quite frankly, will be paying the price for a long time afterward for those decisions."
Christie noted that the economy will struggle further given all the other policies of higher taxes and more spending.

"I mean, we're we're the only state to increase our state budget in light of declining COVID revenues," Christie said. "All those things are going to come back to haunt us."

Schools

Another major departure from Murphy, Christie said that despite the pandemic, he would not have closed the schools in New Jersey.

"I think we've seen absolutely no objective evidence that children in schools has contributed in any significant way to the spread of the virus," Christie said. "And so I think the damage that has been done to our public education system, and the education that our children are getting, is significant."

Christie said the damage is more significant in urban areas, where there's not nearly as much access to broadband, and to portable devices, where people can effectively stream their education, and in extremely rural areas.

"It's much more available in the suburban areas of New Jersey," Christie said. "So not only would I not have closed down schools, I would not have permitted schools to be closed down."

Long-Term Care Facilities

Christie says that Murphy was "absolutely wrong" in the way he dealt with nursing homes in long term care facilities and veterans homes. Read more: NJ COVID Nursing Home Deaths, Cases Spike As Murphy Points Blame

"Those people should never have been told that they had to accept COVID positive patients when we know that the elderly are the most vulnerable," Christie said. "And in fact, over 40 percent of the deaths from COVID happens with the elderly."

This is not a new Christie criticism. He has spoken like this in the past, and Murphy has even returned serve previously.

"There's a talking point and it sounds really good. Governor Christie hit this the other day and I would suggest this to him, I know he is doing really well lobbying over coronavirus clients, it's really important to know what the facts are," Murphy said over the summer. "Don't let the facts get in the way, God forbid."

Murphy has vehemently disagreed with that characterization, noting that his administration was crystal clear and explicit about any reintroduction of COVID positive residents into long-term care facilities came with conditions. They would need to cohort, separate into different floors, or different buildings or different wings. The order included staff.

"And if you can't do it, and many came to us and said we can't do that, can you help us find a place for these COVID positive patients?" he said. "So that talking point is myth."

Murphy also said that it may have happened, but it was explicitly against the guidance of his administration.

Following Science

Christie said that following the science is a part, a very important part of a pandemic response strategy, but it should not be the only thing considered.

"I don't mind what people say follow the science. But then follow the science." Christie said. "And don't restrict indoor dining as much as it's been restricted and don't permit schools to be closed down."

Christie said if following the science was all governing is about, then we would just elect scientists in office.

"It's also about bringing all those different societal concerns together to make the best possible combined decision. And I think we've missed that. We've not only misused the science, regarding the elderly, and our schoolchildren, but we've also misused the role of science in saying it's the only thing that should make decisions," Christie said. "It should be a driver of your decisions."

Christie said from the very beginning of the pandemic he would have handled things very differently than Murphy.

"Instead of going at it with a shotgun, I would have gone out with a scalpel," he said.

Read more from Patch's interview with Christie:

• 'No Safe Place:' Christie Urges Masking After COVID-19 Battle
• Christie Tells Trump It Is Time To 'Move On' From Election Loss
• Ex-Gov. Christie Would Have Opened NJ Schools, Dining Amid COVID
• Chris Christie Has 'No Intention' Of Leaving Mendham
• Ex-Gov. Christie Extolls 'Extraordinary' COVID Care In Morristown

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