NJ Officials Warn Against Thanksgiving Gatherings As Cases Rise

NEW JERSEY — With coronavirus cases rising to their highest rate in New Jersey since the pandemic began, Gov. Phil Murphy and health officials are strongly recommending that residents not travel or have large gatherings at their households for Thanksgiving and the holidays.

While some mass gatherings have become superspreader events, the virus is also frequently transmitted in relatively small gatherings, Murphy said. New Jersey is also seeing an uptick in cases connected to indoor dining, which prompted the governor to impose a 10 p.m. curfew this week on those businesses. Read more: Gov. Murphy Clarifies New Rules For NJ Indoor Dining, Barbers

"We do not want a Thanksgiving dinner to turn tragic because someone unwittingly exposed a large number of their family members to the coronavirus," said Murphy, who addressed Thanksgiving during his Thursday news conference. "We urge everyone to take stock of how many people you may be inviting to your Thanksgiving table."

Similar guidance has been issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Anthony Fauci and other leading infectious disease experts. Beyond the threats posed by small indoor gatherings, increased travel around the holidays to attend celebrations is another means of exposure.

"This is not the year to plan to visit out-of-state relatives, or to invite them to New Jersey," Murphy said. "And whether it is Thanksgiving, or a family birthday, or ... a baby shower, we urge you to not gather around the dining room table with anyone outside your immediate household."

If residents do have a gathering, Murphy urged them to invite a limited number of close relatives or friends "with whom you've been with throughout this pandemic, and to move — if at all possible — your celebration outdoors, maybe around a fire pit or a patio heater if you've been able to get one."

Murphy made his statements as coronavirus metrics have risen dramatically across New Jersey in recent weeks and the second wave of the pandemic has impacted the region.

The Garden State on Tuesday announced its highest daily case total since April — 3,877 — and the state's highest death toll since July: 21. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ COVID-19 Numbers Going 'In Wrong Direction'

On Thursday, at least six New Jersey hospitals were on partial "divert" status as they dealt with too many coronavirus cases and other issues amid the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. "Divert" status usually means that hospitals send notice to incoming ambulances to bring patients to other local medical care facilities.

Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli made the statement as New Jersey had its third consecutive day of 3,000 new cases or more for the first time since April. Read more: At Least 6 NJ Hospitals On 'Divert' Status As COVID-19 Cases Rise

The Thursday spot positivity rate was over 12 percent — more than four times what it was two months ago — and the rate of transmission is 1.3. There are currently 1,827 people in hospitals, a number the state has not seen since June 4.

Officials said 360 patients are in critical care, the highest number reported since June 12, with 117 of those patients on ventilators, a number not seen since July 7.

A positive note: The death rate is not nearly as high as it was in the spring, and cases have largely been kept out of long-term care facilities, where fatality rates had soared.

Fatalities, however, can be a lagging indicator, and their numbers could rise if New Jersey isn't careful during the holidays, Murphy said.

"I encourage everyone to follow the CDC's guidelines and plan for a smaller dinner with your immediate household family only," he said. "We do not want anyone's Thanksgiving to lead to more cases of COVID-19.

"Remember, public health creates economic health," he added. "It happens in that order. For us to get to the stronger, fairer and more resilient New Jersey when this pandemic ends, we need to take action right now."

Patch editor Justin Heinze contributed to this story.

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