Gov. Murphy Allowing More NJ Reopenings, Colleges To Return

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Wednesday that he's allowing more reopenings, setting the stage for colleges to soon resume operations in New Jersey. Murphy made the announcement as he said the Garden State has 330 additional coronavirus cases and 47 more deaths (you can watch it here, below).

The update comes as the number of cases continues has risen to 167,703, and 12,769 people have died. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Murphy, speaking during his Wednesday news conference, said in-person clinical labs and hands-on programming at colleges will be allowed to resume on July 1. Career and training schools can also reopen on July 1.

Murphy said his administration will issue full rules and guidelines later on Wednesday on how colleges can resume operations, but Zakiya Smith Ellis, New Jersey's secretary of higher education, provided some during the news conference:

• Social distancing of 6 feet will be required in high-density spaces such as dining halls
• If social distancing can't happen in dining halls – such as at the cashier stands – then barriers will be required
• Cleaning and disinfection protocols will be required
• Colleges must accommodate those with positive diagnoses, and quarantine and isolation procedures will need to be developed
• Face masks will be required for indoor settings
• Face masks will be strongly recommended for outdoor settings
• Robust testing and contact tracing should be instituted at each college
• Each college will be required to set their own testing protocols
• Colleges must develop a restart plan within 14 days of reopening campuses
• In-person instruction will be allowed, but there will be capacity limits
• Instruction can also happen outdoors
• A limited number of students can return to residential facilities
• Common areas will have to remain closed

Murphy said more guidance will be forthcoming that will focus on these areas: instruction, housing, computer labs, libraries, research and labs, student services, transportation, dining, study abroad and athletics.

"Their health and the health of everyone on campus is critical to the overall public health of our state and to creating the economic health we will need in the long term," Murphy said.

Murphy on Tuesday spelled out the reasons for why New Jersey isn't ready to fully reopen just yet, even as the state's case and hospitalization numbers have declined sharply. He also announced during a news conference that New Jersey has 470 additional coronavirus cases and 51 more deaths. Read more: Gov. Murphy Says NJ Not Ready To Fully Reopen Yet: Here's Why

Watch Murphy here:

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