Gov. Phil Murphy on Saturday announced he’s putting New Jersey into a virtual lockdown to combat the spread of the coronavirus, ordering New Jerseyans to stay at home except for necessary trips and mandating that non-essential retail businesses closed until further notice and others have people work from home.
The measures will go into effect 9 p.m. Saturday, Murphy said while announcing that the state now has 1,327 confirmed cases of the virus that has infected hundreds of thousands across the globe. There have now been 16 known deaths from the virus in New Jersey.
The governor said the actions are needed to limit human interaction in an effort to help slow the spread of the virus, which causes the illness COVID-19.
“We can no longer maintain a sense of business as usual,” Murphy said during a news briefing at Rutgers-Newark. “Just as it is no time to panic, it is time to be smart, transparent, aggressive.
The governor said essential workers, such as emergency responders and health-care employees, are allowed to travel. And the general public can still go outdoors for exercise.
Businesses allowed to open include grocery stores, food banks, pharmacies, medical marijuana dispensaries, gas stations, auto mechanics and repair services, convenience stores, banks, hardware and home improvement stores, laundromats, dry cleaners, printing and office supply shops, pet stores, stores that sell supplies for young children, and mail and delivering shops.
Other businesses should allow people to work from home, if possible, the governor said.
Restaurants, bars, and liquor stores that provide takeout can remain open. Construction sites will not be closed.
Murphy said people can assume most retail is non-essential. “And we mean it,” he said.
The governor said he is also banning all public gatherings — which means no weddings, in-person services, or even parties.
“This decision is not an easy one, and it pains me that important life moments will not be celebrated the way we are accustomed to,” the governor said. ”Our singular goal is to make sure we get through this emergency so you can safely gather with family and friends later and enjoy many more wedding and birthdays to come.”
Murphy also said he wants people off the roads for non-essential travel 24 hours. He noted health workers, media, law enforcement, and federal officials who need to travel are exempt.
“We expect people to stay home,” Murphy said. “We want you off the roads. That’s now 24 hours. We don’t want you out there. Period.”
On those who may violate his orders, Murphy said: “If folks are monkeying around, we will take action.”
The governor also said people should not go to homes at the Jersey Shore.
“The local infrastructure, especially in offseason, is not prepared for the influx of part-time residents,” Murphy said.
When asked how long he expected his orders to remain in place Murphy said: “It’s somewhere measured in weeks to months. This is not next week. I wish it were.”
The state’s website said manufacturing, industrial, logistics, ports, heavy construction, shipping, food production, food delivery, and other commercial operations may continue operating, but stressed they must keep staff at a minimal level on site to make sure “essential operations can continue.”
Medical facilities can continue to operate, including any one “where a sick or injured person is given care or treatment, such as: doctor’s offices, hospitals, dentist offices, long-term care facilities, and other medical offices.”
Murphy’s move follows similar stay-at-home orders in recent days by the governors of California, New York, and Connecticut.
Murphy had already indefinitely closed public schools, indoor malls, movie theaters, casinos, gyms, barbershops, salons, libraries and more across the state. He banned dine-in areas of restaurants and previously limited public gatherings to fewer than 50 people. Plus, he has strongly suggested that people refrain from non-essential travel in New Jersey and called on people to stay home if they can.
But Murphy had allowed other retail businesses to remain open in recent days, as long as they adhere to social distancing guidelines and closed by 8 p.m. That is set to stop Saturday night.
“Social distancing is the key to stopping this,” state Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said. “There’s nothing more sophisticated about it. We don’t have a vaccine.”
Officials expect the number of positive coronavirus tests in New Jersey to increase significantly in the coming days as testing expands and there is more evidence of “community spread.”
The state has not released how many negative tests have come back or how many people have recovered from the virus, which causes the illness COVID-19.
New Jersey opened its first state-run coronavirus testing site, at Bergen Community College in Paramus, on Friday. Thousands of people showed up, and the line was halted around noon. Testing resumed there Saturday at 8 a.m.
A second, similar site, at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, is set to open Monday.
The state on Saturday also announced a new website for information and answers on the state’s response to the virus: covid19.nj.gov/.
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Restrictions are dramatically ramping up amid the growing coronavirus pandemic, with Illinois and its 13 million residents — 10 million in the Chicago area — the latest to join California by moving closer to an effective lockdown. Meantime, New York told nonessential workers to stay home, Florida closed restaurants, bars and gyms amid spring-break revelry, and the U.S.-Mexico border is closing to nonessential travel. Restrictions are dramatically ramping up amid the growing coronavirus pandemic, with Illinois and its 13 million residents — 10 million in the Chicago area — the latest to join California by moving closer to an effective lockdown. Meantime, New York told nonessential workers to stay home, Florida closed restaurants, bars and gyms amid spring-break revelry, and the U.S.-Mexico border is closing to nonessential travel. Restrictions are dramatically ramping up amid the growing coronavirus pandemic, with Illinois and its 13 million residents — 10 million in the Chicago area — the latest to join California by moving closer to an effective lockdown. Meantime, New York told nonessential workers to stay home, Florida closed restaurants, bars and gyms amid spring-break revelry, and the U.S.-Mexico border is closing to nonessential travel.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) on Friday ordered residents to stay at home for nonessential activity. The order will take effect Saturday evening 13 million people in the state, until the end of April 7. People will still be able to go to the grocery store, get food or gas, go running or hiking or get to work.
Here are some significant developments:
Italy announced another record-breaking death toll on Friday: 627, up from 427 the previous day. The country cited 9,600 people in one day for violating lockdown.
New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo ordered all workers in his state to stay home, except for those in essential services. The move came after California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered 40 million residents to remain at home.
The U.S. tax filing deadline has been pushed back from April 15 to July 15. “All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Twitter.
More than 250,000 cases have been confirmed across the globe. The World Health Organization noted that it took more than three months to reach 100,000 cases worldwide — but only 12 days to log the next 100,000. The number of deaths and confirmed cases continues to surge in Spain and Iran.
For a second consecutive day, China reported no new local infections. But concerns are growing about a new wave of imported cases elsewhere in the region: Hong Kong reported its biggest daily jump in cases Friday, including many that involved recent travel.
Illinois residents ordered to stay at home except for essential activities
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) on Friday ordered residents to stay at home except for certain essential activities, enforcing a measure two other states have taken to blunt the spread of the coronavirus. The order will take effect Saturday evening for 13 million people in the state, until the end of April 7.
“To avoid the loss of potentially tens of thousands of lives, we must enact an immediate stay at home order for the state of Illinois,” Pritzker said.
The announcement follows similar decrees in New York and California.
Pritzker said he expects cases in the state to rise rapidly. He said he did not come to the decision easily.
“As this epidemic has progressed we’ve had to make some hard decisions,” he said. “But ultimately you can’t have a livelihood if you don’t have your life.”
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot emphasized that the order was “not a lockdown or martial law,” noting many services will remain open. Officials said residents will still be able to go to the grocery store, get gas, get dinner from local restaurants and go running and hiking. Many will still be able to go to work, they said.
“Coronavirus will not go away by happenstance,” Lightfoot said. “We must be intentional about taking steps to ‘flatten the curve.’ ”
Municipalities will halt all evictions, authorities said. By Michael Brice-Saddler
3:57 p.m.
Florida governor closes all restaurants and gyms, allowing kitchens to open for takeout only
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued a new executive order Friday afternoon that all on-premises restaurant sales must cease, and all gyms and fitness centers must close. Restaurants can keep their kitchens open for takeout and delivery services only, a dramatic escalation from DeSantis’s announcement earlier this week that restaurants were permitted to stay open at 50-percent capacity.
Friday’s announcement comes three days after the governor restricted bars, pubs and nightclubs, closing them for 30 days, although scenes of spring break revelry in Fort Myers, Siesta Key and Clearwater Beach continued this week, albeit at a more subdued pace. On Thursday on “Fox & Friends,” the governor conveyed a strong message to sun-seeking tourists: “The message for spring breakers is the party is over in Florida.”
DeSantis, however, does see the need for blowing off steam in the face of the coronavirus pandemic: The new executive order lifts some restrictions on restaurants to allow for the sale of to-go sealed alcoholic beverages accompanying meals.
Florida law previously prohibited restaurants from the sale of alcohol for delivery, takeout or off-premises consumption. By Laura Reiley
3:46 p.m.
Army shutters all recruiting stations, shifting to virtual effort
The Army is closing all of its recruiting stations and will shift to virtual recruiting, officials said Friday, as the Pentagon finds its footing to keep a stream of new soldiers flowing during the coronavirus pandemic.
Thousands join the military every month, replacing troops who leave the service, but the logistical nightmare of sending recruits into confined spaces for months of training has sparked concern for some officials.
The Pentagon has said that training will continue, which was reiterated by Army Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville, in a news conference Friday, although additional screening and isolation measures have been put in place for recruits moving from hometowns to training sites.
But the digital shift in recruitment comes as the force reckons with how to socially distance in an inherently social institution. McConville said much recruiting is done through social media anyway. The Army, after sustained problems in meeting its recruiting goals, has looked online in recent years, for example creating its own esports league to reach pools of potential recruits.
Nearly two-dozen soldiers have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, along with eight family members, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said. McCarthy said he expects promising recruitment numbers this year will help offset reductions for now, but it is unclear at what point declining numbers will prompt concern. By Alex Horton
3:42 p.m.
AP tests canceled, K-12 standardized testing suspended; student loan holders get a break
The organization that oversees the Advanced Placement program said Friday that regular AP testing will be canceled because of the coronavirus crisis and replaced by shorter online versions of the exams that can be taken in 45 minutes at home. The College Board’s announcement reflected the extraordinary upheaval in education, with schools across the country closing in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.
AP tests ordinarily occur in May. But disruptions in classes are occurring in many states, with no end in sight, posing unprecedented obstacles for teachers and students. Students will be able to take the 45-minute exams on computers, tablets or smartphones.
“To be fair to all students, some of whom have lost more instructional time than others, the exam will only include topics and skills most AP teachers and students have already covered in class by early March,” the organization said.
President Trump also said Friday his administration is waiving all federal requirements for standardized tests for students in kindergarten through 12th grade because the coronavirus pandemic has forced most schools in the country to close for an indefinite period during annual testing season.
He also announced that borrowers with college loans can opt to suspend payments, a move designed to ease the financial turmoil caused by the pandemic.
All states have an annual federal mandate under the Every Student Succeeds Act to test students in most grades annually for accountability purposes. Some states had already declared they would not administer the tests.
“The Department of Education will not enforce standardized testing requirements, very importantly, for students in elementary through high school for the current year,” Trump said. “They’ve been through a lot. They’ve been going back and forth. Schools open. Schools not open.”
“I think a lot of the students will be extremely happy,” he said. “Some probably not. The ones that work hard — maybe not.”
Separately, the administration announced a week after promising to waive interest on federal student loans that Americans contending with the economic impact of the pandemic can opt to suspend their payments altogether.
“These are anxious times, particularly for students and families whose educations, careers, and lives have been disrupted,” Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said in a statement. “Right now, everyone should be focused on staying safe and healthy, not worrying about their student loan balance growing.”
For at least 60 days, the 42 million Americans holding $1.5 trillion in federal student debt can ask their loan servicer to allow them to temporarily postpone their payments. Anyone who was more than 31 days behind on their bill as of March 13, or who becomes that delinquent, will have their payments automatically suspended.
All federal student borrowers, regardless of whether they choose to postpone their payments, will automatically have the interest on their loans set at zero for at least 60 days.
The new interest rate will be retroactive to March 13.
People in public service jobs will have to think twice about postponing their payments. Opting out for two months will result in a longer path to debt cancellation for people working toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness. The federal program cancels the remaining balance of a borrower’s debt after 120 on-time monthly payments, but postponing the bill will lengthen the process. By Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, Valerie Strauss and Nick Anderson
3:32 p.m.
Drive-through testing location in Darien, Conn., changed after neighbors complain
A health worker administers a coronavirus test Friday at a drive-through testing location operated by Murphy Medical Associates at Cummings Park in Stamford, Conn. (John Moore/AFP/Getty Images)
Plans to conduct drive-through coronavirus tests outside Darien, Conn.’s town hall were canceled on Wednesday, four hours after the announcement sparked complaints from neighbors, the Darien Times reported.
A woman who said she lives near the town hall had written on the newspaper’s Facebook page that she was strongly opposed to the testing location because children live nearby and residents did not receive what she considered enough advance notice, according to the Darien Times. The comment appeared to have been deleted by Friday.
Other neighbors said they were also concerned about the testing spot being near their homes, the newspaper reported. When the cancellation was announced, dozens of people expressed frustration on Facebook and urged the town to reconsider.
First Selectman Jayme Stevenson wrote Thursday on Twitter that she was finalizing plans for a testing location “that will better handle vehicular traffics and queuing.”
On Friday, Darien officials announced that they had relocated the testing site to the town’s high school and that testing would begin Monday for people who have doctor’s orders and have passed an online screening process.
Darien, a town of roughly 21,000 people, was rated by Bloomberg News this year as the 10th wealthiest place in the country. By Marisa Iati
The latest information collected by the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce about how the outbreak is affecting New Jersey and your business.
Breaking News –Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced today that Tax Day will be moved to July 15 from April 15 because of the coronavirus outbreak. Cases in New Jersey – New Jersey officials announced 318 new coronavirus cases Thursday, increasing the statewide total to 742 positive tests with nine deaths as the outbreak continues to expand. More Closures – Gov. Murphy ordered the indefinite closure of all personal care businesses which cannot comply with social distancing guidelines, including barber shops, hair salons, spas, nail and eyelash salons, tattoo parlors, among others – and social clubs. No Foreclosures – Gov. Murphy also signed an executive order creating moratorium on removing individuals from their homes pursuant to an eviction or foreclosure proceeding. Murphy Talks to Trump – Gov. Phil Murphy had two asks when he talked to President Donald Trump on Thursday: Federal grants for the state and protective equipment for health care workers as New Jersey struggles with the coronavirus. Medical Equipment – N.J. has just a fraction of the equipment needed to handle the coronavirus Low-Interest Disaster Loans – U.S. Small Business Administration is offering disaster loans to small businesses in New Jersey. To apply for an SBA loan, click here.For guidance on SBA loans, click here. Note from the SBA about completing disaster loan applications:If you are having trouble first getting in after you put in business type, make sure you have entered your type of business AND clicked on EIDL and only EIDL under type of assistance seeking. N.J. small businesses hurt by coronavirus can now get low-interest federal loans. But should they? State Legislature Acts – Check out the N.J. Chamber of Commerce’s breakdown of bills passed by the state Legislature in response to the coronavirus emergency. U.S. Chamber’s Proposal – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is calling on the Trump administration and Congress to take three critical steps to support America’s employers. A Word from the Grocery Stores – “PILE THEM HIGH AND WATCH THEM BUY” Life inside a grocery store: Restocking, staying clean, handling the rush — and changing its business model on the fly. Previous Executive Orders Business Closures – Gov. Murphy mandated the indefinite closure across New Jersey of 1) all indoor portions of retail shopping malls and 2) all indoor and outdoor places of public amusement. This supplements the list of facilities currently closed to members of the public, which includes casino gaming floors, racetracks, gyms and entertainment centers. Restaurants and Bars Can Partially Operate – Takeout and delivery are still an option at restaurants and bars (including those in malls that have a separate entrance) No Groups of 50 or More – The governor teamed with governors of New York and Connecticut to recommend the cancellation or postponement of in-person events consisting of 50 people or more. Resources New Jersey set up a website with information for businesses and the impact of coronavirus. To report a scammer or suspected price gouging, report it to N.J. Division of Consumer Affairs at (973) 504-6240 or at http://njconsumeraffairs.gov. Gov. Murphy set up a 24-hour hotline where trained healthcare professionals are standing by to answer questions about coronavirus. The number is 1-800-222-1222 and the call is free. If using an out-of-state phone line, call 1-800-962-1253. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a good web page called guide for business and employers for dealing with the Coronavirus. The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce is staying on top of Coronavirus (COVID-19) developments. For news media requests, please email Scott Goldstein.
A package of bipartisan economic-relief bills drafted in response to the coronavirus pandemic is now sitting on Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk following swift action in the state Senate on Thursday.
The legislation is aimed at, among other things, providing direct help to New Jersey businesses facing revenue losses and employees who may be losing hours or even their jobs because so many companies have been shuttered in recent days due to the growing number of COVID-19 infections.
But one of the measures in the nearly 30-bill package was immediately signed by the governor, establishing a moratorium on any evictions that tenants or homeowners in foreclosure might have faced during the ongoing emergency.
Calling for more federal help
The rapid legislative action — most of the bills passed by the Senate on Thursday had just been introduced on Monday — came as major concerns about the potential economic upheaval led Murphy, a first-term Democrat, to begin calling for economic relief beyond what the federal government has already enacted.
In fact, the entire package was passed by the Senate during an hourlong session that was held — possibly for the first time in the state’s history — inside the Assembly’s chambers. That was done to give lawmakers the ability to maintain “social-distancing” guidelines that help prevent further spread of the virus.
“I’m 60 years old (and) I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” said Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester) speaking to reporters on a conference call set up after the hearing, again to accommodate growing health concerns.
Meanwhile, news also broke on Thursday that New Jersey Transit, the state’s already-beleaguered mass-transit agency, is seeking a total of $1.25 billion in federal assistance to offset increased costs and a significant loss of revenue from drastically reduced ridership caused by the outbreak.
“Emergency federal funding is required, so that current programs for capital projects and state of good repair funding are not cannibalized, at the expense of system safety and operations,” wrote Kevin Corbett, NJ Transit’s president and chief executive in a letter sent to the entire state congressional delegation that was obtained by NJ Spotlight.
NJ Transit also announced it is scaling back rail service to a weekend schedule on most of its lines starting Friday.
Extending deadline on income-tax payments
Sweeney also raised concerns during his call about the state of the state’s own budget. The current fiscal year runs through June 30. One of the bills that was passed on Thursday would extend the deadline for making gross income-tax payments all the way until the final day of fiscal 2020.
“There’s just a whole lot of things we don’t know right now,” Sweeney said.
Murphy signed an executive order earlier this month that declared a statewide state of emergency to help New Jersey combat the spread of the coronavirus. More than 740 residents have now tested positive for COVID-19, with nine fatalities, according to the latest update provided by the governor and other state officials.
All schools across the state have been closed during the state emergency, and dining-in at all restaurants and bars has been prohibited. Retail shopping malls and indoor amusement centers have also been shut down. Barber shops and hair and nail salons went dark, starting Thursday evening.
Helping NJ companies make payroll
To help offset the economic losses that officials are still trying to quantify, one of the measures passed by lawmakers would make grants available to New Jersey businesses through the state’s Economic Development Authority. The grants could go to businesses for things like “working capital and meeting payroll requirements,” according to the bill.
In addition, lawmakers sent Murphy a measure that would make available $20 million in state funding to help pay hourly workers and other residents who lose wages due to illness or as a result of caring for a family member who is sick or unable to attend school or daycare due to ongoing closures. The funding could also be tapped by employers whose workers are facing quarantine due to the coronavirus, according to the bill.
Another $15 million would be provided to food banks in New Jersey, and the bill package also includes a measure that seeks to give state taxpayers more time to make this year’s gross-income and corporate-business tax payments, mirroring action taken at the federal level in recent days. Although the bill’s language is somewhat confusing, a legislative staffer on Thursday said the intent is to keep the tax-filing deadline at April 15, but to allow tax payments to be pushed to June 30.
And then there’s the bill that Murphy signed into law immediately that permits the governor to establish a moratorium on evictions during a state of emergency.
“This outbreak affects all of us and we are all in this together,” Murphy said in a statement issued as his action on the bill was announced Thursday afternoon.
Speaking about the other bills in the legislative package, nearly 30 in all, Murphy promised they would be “swiftly” reviewed.
In addition to the state action, Murphy said during an earlier press briefing that he is attempting to work with the leaders of other states in the region to encourage President Donald Trump’s administration to quickly release emergency federal aid that has been approved by Congress — in ways that allow flexible spending on the local level.
Using superstorm approach to aid
In recent days, Murphy and Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver have suggested the federal government should follow a template used in the wake of 2012’s Superstorm Sandy, in which much of the local aid flowed through Community Development Block Grants, or CDBGs, administered through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“The meter is running and it’s running in a big way,” Murphy said. “We need backend fill from the federal government.”
“I want to pound the table, and the best and most effective way we can stay in the game is to get federal aid,” he said.
As for NJ Transit, the letter that was sent by Corbett to U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez and all 12 of New Jersey’s members of the U.S. House of Representatives said the mass-transit agency has seen a nearly 90% decline in ridership as Murphy and Trump have been urging people to curtail activities in the wake of the outbreak. At the same time, NJ Transit has also taken on unforeseen costs related to the regular cleaning and disinfecting of its equipment.
In addition to its heavy reliance on fares and the state budget, making matters worse for NJ Transit is its longstanding use of diverted funds from capital resources and other pots of money that may also take a big hit in the wake of the outbreak. Transportation advocates have long warned against this practice, which has continued during Murphy’s tenure.
“We are currently looking at efficiencies, however, we cannot overcome the unprecedented financial burden this national emergency has created on our own,” Corbett’s letter said.
Turning to concerns about the state budget, Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio issued a statement late Thursday that pointed to the “unpredictable and rapidly changing” impact of the epidemic as it spreads across the globe. Revenue forecasts for both the remainder of fiscal year 2020 and all of FY2021 were issued just last month, but they already seem likely to need drastic revisions.
“Treasury’s team is monitoring and analyzing the situation around the clock as it unfolds,” Muoio said. “We will continue to provide monthly public revenue updates and we expect to provide a detailed revenue update to the legislative budget committees at some point, as is typical during the budget process.”
“This will certainly require an unprecedented level of cooperation and I know the administration is committed to doing what is best for this state regardless of the hand we are dealt,” she said.
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President Trump attacked the media and China and said he was directing the FDA to fast track potential treatments.
By Teo Armus of the Washington Post
As lawmakers in the United States finalize a massive stimulus package and cities and states order residents to shelter in place to contain the novel coronavirus, fears about hospitals running out of medical supplies seem to be inching closer to reality.
The number of confirmed cases in the United States doubled in just 48 hours this week, jumping from about 5,700 on Tuesday evening to more than 13,100 late on Thursday. More than 170 people have died, and worryingly, many of those hospitalized are younger adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The sharp rise in cases nationwide stems in part from expanded testing, officials say, and the total will continue to increase as more results become available. But there are already some obstacles in the way.
Facing a shortage of swabs, chemical solutions, and masks, some hospitals have been unable to take samples, and some laboratories have been kept from running the tests. As ordinary Americans are being turned away, many actors, politicians and athletes seem to be jumping to the front of the line for tests instead.
Pressed by reporters on whether these famous figures should get easier access to testing for the virus, President Trump said no.
“But perhaps that’s been the story of life,” he added.’Americans need cash now’: Mnuchin announces plan to send checks to Americans ‘immediately’Speaking at the coronavirus task force briefing on March 17, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced plans to send checks to struggling businesses. (The Washington Post)
Republican lawmakers introduced a $1 trillion stimulus plan that would involve sending direct cash payments to many Americans. While Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called for negotiations with Democrats over the relief measures to start on Friday, the details of the package keep changing.
On Thursday, Trump embraced another idea, expressing his support for the federal government to take equity stakes in private companies that receive coronavirus bailout funds.
Many struggling industries have ask the federal government for hundreds of billions of dollars in assistance, and such an approach would protect taxpayer investments in firms. But the move is been controversial because it effectively involves partial government ownership of private companies.
Referring to the widely reported incident involving the nuptials in Lakewood on Tuesday, the governor said “we simply cannot have this. We have got to ensure compliance, no matter what the circumstances are.”
Restrictions on gatherings larger than 50 people, mandated under a governor’s executive order, “has to be enforced,” Murphy said. “It will be enforced aggressively.”
Officers in Lakewood had responded to the separate wedding celebrations — one at Fountain Ballroom on Vassar Avenue and the other at Lake Terrace on Oak Street — and told venue staff that gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited, said Lakewood Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith. The workers and guests then dispersed.
Meanwhile, rumors spreading through the Orthodox community yesterday have suggested as many as 40 now may have coronavirus — a claim that state officials said they could not corroborate.
“We don’t have any insight on that,” said the governor of the claim, reported on a local website. “There was a rumor that 100 people were exposed. We cannot confirm that.”
Murphy added “there’s an enormous amount going around on social media.” Often, he said, it’s not tied down to the actual facts.”
Ocean County health officials did not have updated numbers out of Lakewood at mid-afternoon. The most recent official health department numbers show four people have so far tested positively for COVID-19 in Lakewood.
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