Gov. Murphy: NJ 'Backslides' In Coronavirus Outbreak

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday that New Jersey has "seen a little backsliding" as he provided the latest numbers on the coronavirus crisis: 3,047 new cases — pushing the Garden State total to more than 100,000 — and 253 more deaths.

Speaking during a Friday news conference (you can watch it here, below), Murphy pointed to a graphic showing 20 of the 21 counties where progress has slowed over the past 24 hours based on the rate of cases reported. Only Union County showed improvement since Thursday (see list below).

Murphy said the curve of cases is "flattening" but that he's not ready to open up the state if there is any regression, saying: "We can't let that happen. The biggest weapon we have is to stay at home."

Murphy had suggested that he could offer a reopening plan as early as Friday. But he said during the news conference that that plan will be released Monday.

It's not known if the slowing progress impacted that plan, as well as its release. Read more: Gov. Murphy To Roll Out Broad NJ Reopening Plan Amid Coronavirus

"I'm not in a position yet to begin fully putting our state on the road back," he said. "We need to see more progress and more slowing."

Here are the counties and the number of days it's taking for their cases to double — and how much they regressed, based on percentages, from Thursday to Friday (the larger the number, the better):

1. Monmouth: 26.5 (regressed 11 percent or more)
2. Hunterdon: 24.5 (regressed 18 percent or more)
3. Bergen: 27 (regressed 6 percent)
4. Morris: 23 (regressed 6 percent)
5. Cape May: 21.5 (regressed 24 percent)
6. Ocean: 21 (regressed 22 percent)
7. Essex: 22 (regressed 4 percent)
8. Somerset 18.5 (regressed 11 percent)
9. Union: 18.5 (progressed 5 percent)
10. Passaic: 17.5 (regressed 22 percent)
11. Middlesex: 17 (regressed 12 percent)
12. Sussex: 16.5 (regressed 17 percent)
13. Hudson: 16.5 (regressed 10 percent)
14. Gloucester: 14.5 (regressed 17 percent)
15. Warren: 14 (regressed 20 percent)
16. Mercer: 13 (regressed 7 percent)
17. Burlington: 12.5 (regressed 16 percent)
18. Camden: 11.5 (regressed 24 percent)
19. Atlantic: 11 (regressed 24 percent)
20. Cumberland: 9.5 (regressed 5 percent)
21. Salem: 9.5 (regressed 38 percent)

Here is the state graph showing the numbers Friday:

Here is where the state stood Thursday:

Currently, 6,847 people are hospitalized and 1,487 ventilators are in use. New Jersey now has had 102,196 cases and 5,617 deaths. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli also appeared to address President Donald Trump's statements from Thursday when he appeared to question whether disinfectants can be injected or ingested as a way to fight the coronavirus.

"Keep these products away from children and, certainly, they should never be ingested or injected," she said, adding that such products could burn the esophagus and could prove to be fatal.

Murphy also paid tribute to people who passed away:

Watch Murphy here:

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Here's what else you should know:

• Murphy issued a stay-at-home order, closing all non-essential business at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 21. Read more: Gov. Murphy Announces NJ 'Stay-At-Home' Order Due To Coronavirus
• Murphy, speaking during a Thursday, April 16 press conference, said schools will remain closed through May 15. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Schools Shut Through May 15 In Coronavirus Crisis
• Murphy ordered stores across New Jersey on Wednesday, April 8 to require shoppers to wear face coverings or masks. Here's how you can get yours, and how the new rule will be enforced. Read more: NJ Shoppers Must Wear Masks: Where To Get Them, How It's Enforced
• Here are 10 resources for you and your family to utilize as you navigate through the outbreak: Unemployment, Tests, Food: 10 NJ Resources In Coronavirus Crisis
• New Jersey's courts suspended all new jury trials until further notice, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner said on Thursday, March 12. Read more: Coronavirus Throws Monkey Wrench Into New Jersey Court System
• Murphy said during a live press conference on Wednesday, March 25 that he's ordering many day care centers to shut amid the coronavirus outbreak. Read more: Gov. Murphy To Shut Many Day Care Centers Amid Coronavirus Crisis
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel advisory for New Jersey. Read more: CDC Travel Advisory For NJ: No Coronavirus Travel Ban From Trump
• New Jersey residents are expected to start receiving stimulus payments soon. Here's what you need to do beforehand. Read more: Coronavirus Economic Stimulus Payments: What You Need To Do In NJ
• On Friday, March 27, Murphy allowed more types of New Jersey businesses – including gun sellers – to operate in the coronavirus outbreak. What's open and closed now? Read more: What's Open, Closed? More NJ Business To Operate Amid Coronavirus
• Murphy announced on Tuesday, April 7 that state and county parks will close. Read more: Gov. Murphy Closes Parks On NJ Coronavirus Crisis's Deadliest Day
• Here are four urgent tasks New Jersey wants you to do during the coronavirus outbreak, including wearing a mask. And here's why. Read more: Wear A Mask! 4 Things NJ Wants You To Do In Coronavirus Outbreak

How It Spreads

The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person. Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others. That is why CDC recommends that these patients be isolated either in the hospital or at home (depending on how sick they are) until they are better and no longer pose a risk of infecting others.

There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19.

While the best way to prevent illness is to avoid virus exposure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention always recommends taking preventive actions to contain the spread of viruses. This includes:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.