NJ COVID Public Health Emergency Extended As Cases, Deaths Spike

NEW JERSEY –Gov. Phil Murphy has extended New Jersey's public health emergency amid the coronavirus crisis for the eighth time as the state reported its highest daily case numbers ever, and fatalities climbed to the Garden State's highest point in four months.

Murphy is expected to address the new declaration during his 1 p.m. news conference on Monday. You can watch it here:

Murphy extended the coronavirus outbreak's public health emergency for another 30 days, saying that New Jersey is feeling the brunt of the second wave of the coronavirus and dealing with a sharp rise in cases and fatalities that have been reported over the past few weeks.

There were 2,505 patients in New Jersey hospitals on Friday, three times the number from a month ago. Another 452 patients were in ICUs and 233 ventilators were in use.

Hospitals are starting to talk about how they're "filling up" with COVID-19 patients, and some have had to divert patients to other facilities. Read more: 'Terrified' Hillsborough Nurse Pleads For Caution As COVID Spikes

During an interview with "Good Morning America" on Monday, Murphy addressed what he considers a "vortex of bad facts" that are forcing New Jersey to come to grips with the worsening pandemic:

The declaration means the state will continue to have the authority to order new shutdowns and take similar extraordinary acts if the virus resurges, as it has done in other states.

Murphy made the announcement as he also revealed that New Jersey once again had its highest number of daily cases every on Saturday: 4,679. He also reported more than 120 confirmed deaths over the past six days, hitting daily fatality numbers New Jersey hasn't seen since July.

Murphy alluded to the fact that New Jersey could start receiving a vaccine for COVID-19 as early as next month, but New Jersey still needs to stay vigilant since the state and the US government need to plan for its distribution. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ May Get First Coronavirus Vaccines By Christmas

“Despite the hope that is on the horizon, the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over,” Murphy said.

Despite the rise in cases, Murphy has only taken small steps to restrict public activity, such as imposing a 10 p.m. curfew on bars and restaurants, banning bar seating and imposing limits on outdoor and indoor gatherings. Some of those restrictions were set to take effect on Monday. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ To Lower Gathering Limits Amid Coronavirus Spikes

Otherwise, Murphy has been resistant to reversing reopenings of the state's economy and schools even as he's said that "everything is on the table" regarding decisions to contain the coronavirus spread.

Although a number of schools have decided to switch to remote learning, Murphy says a very low number of outbreaks and cases are associated with in-person education.

“We continue to utilize all resources available and will need the ability to do so as we battle this virus through the second wave that has enveloped our nation and our state," he said.

This past week, Murphy and Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli outlined New Jersey's recent rise in coronavirus numbers and their impact:

• The daily coronavirus death toll in New Jersey hit 38 on Tuesday and 34 on Saturday, the highest daily numbers since July 11th.
• Daily fatalities exceeded 20 on eight of the last 10 days, the first time that's happened since early July.
• New Jersey's case total also topped 4,000 on six of the last nine days, the first time that's ever happened.
• Murphy said on Friday that the positivity rate is more than double what it was a month ago, topping 10 percent.
• The transmission rate continues to be above the too-high 1.0 level, hitting 1.42, a nearly 40 percent increase over a month ago. That means anyone with the coronavirus is likely spreading the virus to more than one other person, a sign that the disease is community-spread.
• Hospitalizations are also over 2,500, which is three times more than it was a month ago.

For the full text of Executive Order No. 200, click here.

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