Gov. Murphy: NJ To Stay Open Despite Worst COVID Week In Months

NEW JERSEY — Gov. Phil Murphy sought to project optimism as the coronavirus crisis got worse in New Jersey this week, announcing that the state will stay open — and maybe even reopen more — despite the Garden State having its highest number of cases since early June.

Murphy said Thursday he will be "profoundly saddened and, I will say, shocked if we have to shut the whole place down again."

He said that as he also announced on Friday that New Jersey has 796 new coronavirus cases – the highest daily number since June 5th (You can watch Murphy's remarks below.)

"I just don't see that," Murphy said about considering future closures. "We have so much more in place than we had in February and March as well as April and May, everything from the medical knowledge and how we treat patients all the way to the basic compliance on face coverings, social distancing, capacity management."

New Jersey reported 4,535 new cases from Sept. 25 through Thursday, the most since May 31-June 6, when New Jersey had 4,810 new cases (see the list of daily cases below).

Cases are rising as Murphy's office confirmed that contact tracing is underway in New Jersey since President Donald Trump has tested positive for the coronavirus. Trump visited his Bedminster golf club Thursday after being exposed to the virus. Read more: President Trump Went To NJ Event After COVID-19 Exposure

The number of cases also has risen to 205,889, and 14,340 confirmed deaths have been reported. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Here are the new cases reported over the past seven days:

• October 2: 796
• October 1: 663
• September 30: 722
• September 29: 505
• September 28: 561
• September 27: 712
• September 26: 760
• September 25: 612

Hospitalizations also rose in recent weeks after dipping down to around 300. On Friday, the number rose to nearly 528.

The positivity rate also rose to 3 percent for the first time since July 17, Murphy said.

The fatality rate, however, has dropped sharply after rising above 300 and 400 a day in April. Five confirmed deaths were reported Thursday.

Also, the vast majority of the new cases have been reported in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Ocean County had nearly half of the new cases Wednesday, and Lakewood in particular has been labeled a "hot spot."

Murphy met with Ocean County officials Friday to address the local outbreak, which has been connected to social gatherings and funerals. While New Jersey's positivity rate is around 3 percent, Lakewood's is 27 percent. Read more: Lakewood's Coronavirus Positivity Rate Hits 27 Percent

"I was told by two friends in Ocean County that they buried a 46-year-old guy who was a dad in the Lakewood community," he said. "So we're still out there trying to save every life we can."

Murphy has said recently that he will look into doing more reopenings, such as expanding the capacity of indoor dining. Lawmakers have, in recent days, urged the governor to expand capacity seating from 25 to at least 50 percent, saying many restaurants can't survive under the current rules.

Still, he took critics – including some lawmakers to task – on Friday who have ripped Murphy for not reopening more quickly.

"Enough already," Murphy said. "There are still folks out there that are saying reckless, irresponsible things. Let there be no doubt what the facts are telling us, that we have a significant amount of cases and not just in Ocean County, but up and down the state."

The governor also said he expects more schools to switch from remote learning to a hybrid model that includes in-person instruction, possibly by November.

Murphy said the small number of outbreaks in schools since they reopened nearly a month ago shows that they're safe and not contributing to the statewide spike. Read more: Gov. Murphy: 11 Coronavirus Outbreaks At NJ Schools In New Data

"I'd like to see that remote number come down sooner than later," Murphy said. "A lot of them will come down assuming the virus remains in a holding pattern."

At the same time, Murphy said he doesn't expect a return to full, statewide in-person instruction happening any time soon.

"You've got real space and capacity issues," he said. "There's only so much space in any given school that would allow so many kids on a socially distant basis."

Murphy said he also doesn't expect to shut down if there is a second wave of the virus, saying New Jersey has "bed capacity we didn't have (before), 2,500 ventilators, 98 million pieces of PPE. By the end of the fall, we'll be doubling our testing."

"The experience we're seeing so far is very encouraging, allowing us essentially the confidence to continue moving forward," he said. "You'll see that confidence evidence itself in the switching of districts from remote to hybrid."

Murphy addressed his stance on reopenings during a Facebook Live discussion:

You can watch Murphy here:

Here is a look at new coronavirus cases by day:

• October 2: 796
• October 1: 663
• September 30: 722
• September 29: 505
• September 28: 561
• September 27: 712
• September 26: 760
• September 25: 612
• September 24: 588
• September 23: 430
• September 22: 457
• September 21: 396
• September 20: 457
• September 19: 489
• September 18: 519
• September 17: 617
• September 16: 447
• September 15: 498
• September 14: 346
• September 13: 306
• September 12: 487
• September 11: 518
• September 10: 507
• September 9: 356
• September 8: 284
• September 7: 344
• September 6: 360
• September 5: 370
• September 4: 478
• September 3: 455
• September 2: 329
• September 1: 365
• August 31: 352
• August 30: 306
• August 29: 388
• August 28: 372
• August 27: 374
• August 26: 288
• August 25: 346
• August 24: 225
• August 23: 288
• August 22: 427
• August 21: 313
• August 20: 302
• August 19: 399
• August 18: 400
• August 17: 316
• August 16: 329
• August 15: 464
• August 14: 585
• August 13: 699
• August 12: 484
• August 11: 498
• August 10: 258
• August 9: 378
• August 8: 379
• August 7: 384
• August 6: 411
• August 5: 378
• August 4: 416
• August 3: 264
• August 2: 331
• August 1: 393
• July 31: 699
• July 30: 261
• July 29: 489
• July 28: 565
• July 27: 446
• July 26: 512
• July 25: 547
• July 24: 488
• July 23: 344
• July 22: 390
• July 21: 424
• July 20: 177
• July 19: 144
• July 18: 309
• July 17: 202
• July 16: 254
• July 15: 396
• July 14: 423
• July 13: 231
• July 12: 349
• July 11: 438
• July 10: 367
• July 9: 354
• July 8: 335
• July 7: 310
• July 6: 216
• July 5: 398
• July 4: 303
• July 3: 386
• July 2: 539
• July 1: 423
• June 30: 461
• June 29: 156
• June 28: 354
• June 27: 347
• June 26: 524
• June 25: 406
• June 24: 317
• June 23: 382
• June 22: 359
• June 21: 411
• June 20: 446
• June 19: 516
• June 18: 442
• June 17: 330
• June 16: 470
• June 15: 274
• June 14: 305
• June 13: 523
• June 12: 495
• June 11: 539
• June 10: 611
• June 9: 375
• June 8: 356
• June 7: 426
• June 6: 606
• June 5: 864
• June 4: 603
• June 3: 652
• June 2: 708
• June 1: 509
• May 31: 868
• May 30: 910
• May 29: 1,117
• May 28: 1,261
• May 27: 970
• May 26: 703
• May 25: 965
• May 24: 1,065
• May 23: 443
• May 22: 1,394
• May 21: 1,304
• May 20: 1,670
• May 19: 1,055
• May 18: 1,735
• May 17: 1,272
• May 16: 1,239
• May 15: 1,297
• May 14: 1,216
• May 13: 1,028
• May 12: 898
• May 11: 1,453
• May 10: 1,503
• May 9: 1,759
• May 8: 1,985
• May 7: 1,827
• May 6: 1,513
• May 5: 2,494
• May 4: 1,621
• May 3: 3,144
• May 2: 2,912
• May 1: 2,651
• April 30: 2,633
• April 29: 2,481
• April 28: 2,887
• April 27: 2,146
• April 26: 3,730
• April 25: 3,457
• April 24: 3,047
• April 23: 4,427
• April 22: 3,551
• April 21: 3,644
• April 20: 3,528
• April 19: 3,915
• April 18: 3,026
• April 17: 3,250
• April 16: 4,391
• April 15: 2,625
• April 14: 4,049
• April 13: 3,219
• April 12: 3,733
• April 11: 3,599
• April 10: 3,627
• April 9: 3,748
• April 8: 3,088
• April 7: 3,361
• April 6: 3,663
• April 5: 3,482
• April 4: 4,331
• April 3: 4,372
• April 2: 3,489
• April 1: 3,649
• March 31: 2,196
• March 30: 3,347
• March 29: 2,316
• March 28: 2,289
• March 27: 1,982
• March 26: 2,492
• March 25: 736
• March 24: 846
• March 23: 935
• March 22: 590
• March 21: 442
• March 20: 155
• March 19: 318
• March 18: 162
• March 17: 89
• March 16: 80
• March 15: 31
• March 14: 19
• March 13: 21
• March 12: 21
• March 11: 8
• March 10: 4
• March 9: 5
• March 8: 6
• March 7: 1
• March 6: 1
• March 5: 1
• March 4: 1

Here is a look at coronavirus deaths by day:

• October 2: 4
• October 1: 5
• September 30: 9
• September 29: 10
• September 28: 1
• September 27: 3
• September 26: 6
• September 25: 7
• September 24: 10
• September 23: 7
• September 22: 7
• September 21: 2
• September 20: 3
• September 19: 3
• September 18: 5
• September 17: 3
• September 16: 9
• September 15: 9
• September 14: 3
• September 13: 4
• September 12: 4
• September 11: 9
• September 10: 5
• September 9: 7
• September 8: 5
• September 7: 2
• September 6: 4
• September 5: 7
• September 4: 7
• September 3: 9
• September 2: 11
• September 1: 7
• August 31: 8
• August 30: 4
• August 29: 4
• August 28: 9
• August 27: 7
• August 26: 11
• August 25: 5
• August 24: 3
• August 23: 3
• August 22: 3
• August 21: 13
• August 20: 8
• August 19: 11
• August 18: 10
• August 17: 4
• August 16: 4
• August 15: 7
• August 14: 10
• August 13: 8
• August 12: 9
• August 11: 14
• August 10: 4
• August 9: 5
• August 8: 9
• August 7: 12
• August 6: 8
• August 5: 8
• August 4: 11
• August 3: 10
• August 2: 6
• August 1: 11
• July 31: 10
• July 30: 16
• July 29: 18
• July 28: 24
• July 27: 17
• July 26: 11
• July 25: 16
• July 24: 36
• July 23: 23
• July 22: 24
• July 21: 21
• July 20: 9
• July 19: 11
• July 18: 16
• July 17: 20
• July 16: 32
• July 15: 27
• July 14: 28
• July 13: 22
• July 12: 16
• July 11: 49
• July 10: 31
• July 9: 28
• July 8: 53
• July 7: 52
• July 6: 20
• July 5: 23
• July 4: 25
• July 3: 58
• July 2: 27
• July 1: 45
• June 30: 47
• June 29: 18
• June 28: 30
• June 27: 36
• June 26: 44
• June 25: 26
• June 24: 48
• June 23: 57
• June 22: 27
• June 21: 17
• June 20: 25
• June 19: 37
• June 18: 38
• June 17: 47
• June 16: 51
• June 15: 52
• June 14: 40
• June 13: 103
• June 12: 48
• June 11: 70
• June 10: 74
• June 9: 91
• June 8: 40
• June 7: 79
• June 6: 60
• June 5: 79
• June 4: 92
• June 3: 112
• June 2: 51
• June 1: 27
• May 31: 66
• May 30: 113
• May 29: 131
• May 28: 66
• May 27: 148
• May 26: 54
• May 25: 16
• May 24: 52
• May 23: 96
• May 22: 146
• May 21: 98
• May 20: 168
• May 19: 162
• May 18: 83
• May 17: 107
• May 16: 116
• May 15: 201
• May 14: 244
• May 13: 197
• May 12: 198
• May 11: 59
• May 10: 140
• May 9: 166
• May 8: 162
• May 7: 254
• May 6: 308
• May 5: 334
• May 4: 45
• May 3: 137
• May 2: 205
• May 1: 311
• April 30: 460
• April 29: 329
• April 28: 402
• April 27: 106
• April 26: 75
• April 25: 249
• April 24: 253
• April 23: 307
• April 22: 314
• April 21: 379
• April 20: 177
• April 19: 132
• April 18: 231
• April 17: 323
• April 16: 362
• April 15: 351
• April 14: 365
• April 13: 94
• April 12: 168
• April 11: 251
• April 10: 233
• April 9: 198
• April 8: 275
• April 7: 232
• April 6: 86
• April 5: 71
• April 4: 200
• April 3: 113
• April 2: 182
• April 1: 91
• March 31: 69
• March 30: 37
• March 29: 21
• March 28: 32
• March 27: 27
• March 26: 19
• March 25: 18
• March 24: 17
• March 23: 7
• March 22: 4
• March 21: 5
• March 20: 2
• March 19: 4
• March 18: 3
• March 17: 0
• March 16: 1
• March 15: 0
• March 14: 1
• March 13: 0
• March 12: 0
• March 11: 0
• March 10: 1

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