Coronavirus In New Jersey: Governor Lays Out Plan For Reopening Business, Schools
![Coronavirus In New Jersey: Governor Lays Out Plan For Reopening Business, Schools Coronavirus In New Jersey: Governor Lays Out Plan For Reopening Business, Schools](/pic/coronavirus_in_new_jersey_governor_lays_out_plan_for_reopening_business_schools/TGI1eEJMYTB5bVU_.jpeg)
So, don't. Read. A lot into, the Sunday or the Monday numbers, on their own we, have weekend. Unevenness. And if, that weren't enough we've got a. Little. Bit of a delay, in getting these today because because we're starting earlier we, have. 2146. New, positive, test results, to report for a total statewide. Of 111 thousand. One hundred and eighty eight. And. As I said these numbers may not be quite, entirely complete, so would ask you give. Us till tomorrow and Wednesday look back a few days and then average those days in if you're looking for trend lines, as. We look at the curve, Mahan. Of new, kovat 19 cases it remains flat but. As we'll discuss in a few minutes before we can get ourselves on the road to recovery we, need this, curve to bend down, and to stay down. Sadly. We, with the heaviest of hearts report an additional. 106. Lives. Lost, meaning. That we have now lost a total of, 6040. For Blessed. Brothers. And sisters of the New Jersey family to, covet 19 related. Complications. In. Our healthcare system, as of last night's reporting, there were six thousand, four hundred and seven, patients. Hospitalized, for kovat 19, that, number has as you could see begun to trend downward, and that's a good thing our, field medical stations reported, 75, patients, there. Were, 1801. Patients. In either critical, or intensive, care and, again this number is down, roughly, 9%. From. Where it was last Monday, that number, needs to continue to go down ventilator. Youth's continues, to trend downward to. 1303. Currently, in use this, is down about 18%, from. A week ago, there. Were three hundred and fourteen new, hospitalizations. Yesterday, in the trend line continues. To point in the right direction and for, the 24, hours preceding, 10:00 p.m. last evening, our hospitals, reported. 480. Discharges. We continue to see discharges. Seed new, admissions, and we need to keep it that way this. Data which, we receive, and report every day is the measuring stick of our, progress against, kovat 19. With a slight footnote, that I've already mentioned and that is the. Weekend numbers. Coming. Into early week get a little bit choppy and to, be clear our progress, to date has been driven by, by. Both the hard work of literally tens of thousands, of dedicated, health care professionals, and first, responders, and it. Has been aided and amplified, by the millions, of you who have kept the. Need for social distancing. And personal. Responsibility, close. To your hearts and this. Progress has. Been carried, on in the memory of those we have lost and in, the solidarity. With the family and friends. Left behind we. Won't be speaking today I won't be speaking today's to specific, life stories, we'll pick that up again tomorrow out. Of respect for the fact that we have a very full agenda for, us today. We also have a white house call. At 2 o'clock so we may have to shut things a little bit short and. Forgive us for that because. Of the work of our New Jersey family we cannot can, announce today, a vision, to put our state and our people on the, road to recovery however. There is still much more work to do if we, let up even one bit with our aggressive social, distancing, measures too soon even. One day too soon, we, can easily see, ourselves, skidding. Off this road as I've. Said several times before I, and. Everyone up here and our respective, teams will, be guided by one overarching. Principle. And one principle, only as we, plan our state's reopening, it is, this public, health creates. Economic. Health I repeat. Public health creates.
Economic. Health, now, that is what will guide us that's. The order in which we must proceed it. Means that before we reopen, non-essential, stores in businesses. Before, we can reopen our parks or before. We allow in person, dining in our restaurants, among any host, of other activities, people. Need to know first. For most that, their health that your health will, be safeguarded, from, covin 19. With. That principle, as our. Starting point again public, health creates, economic, health. We. Could put ourselves on, the road back with. A clear vision for moving forward and guided by objective. Metrics, and mile posts, we must meet in order, to move forward the. Road back is, driven, by data science. Health, progress, and common, sense we. Will use rigorous, standards, that are equally. Smart and thoughtful, and, everything, we do will be filtered, through our New Jersey values. This. Road map is designed with one goal, only to. Restore the health strength. And well-being, of New, Jersey for, the long term, but. Let me repeat a basic, truth until. We give the public until we give you all confidence. That. They that you should not be fearful we. Cannot take further steps a plan. That is needlessly, rushed is a plan that, will needlessly, fail. As we. Travel this road we, will ensure that not just most of us come, along for, the ride but, that every community, is along. With us by example I had, a good conversation Saturday. With Linda, Guler blunt president, and CEO of, the black women's health imperative, we. Know from the data that kovat, 19, has had an outsized, impact, on our on our communities, of color something, that Judy and I have spoken about here, the Sheila and Judy. And I have spoken often. About. So. We must not only ensure that these communities, can thrive again but. Our system must ensure, equity, as we, get to, that point, kovat. 19 did not create the inequities, in our society, but it laid them, bare, so. This is also our opportunity. To help close those, gaps and we are committed to doing just that we. Will also ensure that our road back mergers, with those being. Traveled, by our regional partners through the multi-state, Council. This. Isn't. About New Jersey although it is first and foremost about New Jersey for, us to rush ahead, for, example of either Pennsylvania. Or New York or any of our other four, state partners, or vice, versa would. Risk returning, our entire region back, into. Lockdown mode, now. To be clear this doesn't mean that we will or even can take every. Step at, the exact same time or in the exact same way as our, neighbors that did not happen as we close to our state's in it won't happen as we, reopen, them but we will do it in a harmonized, way we, will share information and make decisions based on the guidance of our, public health and security experts and with, an eye on our North Star which, is to protect lives, across, not, just our state but, across our seven states and indeed, across the nation, and. I think I speak for, all seven, governors in our council when I say we. Only want to have to do this once. So, with, that in mind here are the six principles, that will keep New Jersey on the road back using. Renewed, Public Health to create renewed. Economic. Health, adhering. To the first four principles, will, secure, our public health one. Following. Trends of sustained, reductions, in new covered 19 cases and other, key metrics, reflecting, a decreasing. Burden of disease. Two. Expanding. Testing, capacity and speeding, up the, return of results. Three. Robust. Contact. Tracing and, for. Ensuring safe, places where. Those positively. Diagnosed, in the future, can. Isolate, when. We have accomplished, these these four steps we, can move to principle, number five, responsibly.
Restarting, Our economy, to, restore, our economic health, and. Finally. To secure our future we move to principle, number six. Insuring. Our, resiliency. If, we follow this, road we, give ourselves the best possible, chance to succeed in the, months ahead our. First order of business is, to secure, the public's. Health and as I noted this will require us to meet. Our first four principles. The. Stay at home order which, has been in effect since March 21st, will. Remain in effect in its entirety, until. Further notice, for. Us to move out from underneath this order we, need to see at the least a sustained. Reduction. In the number of new positive, kovat. 19 test results, new, kovat 19 related, hospitalizations, and, other, metrics, and. We. Will also need to see our hospitals, step. Down from functioning, under a crisis, standard. Of care, we. Will be looking for trend lines that show 14 day decreases, we. Cannot look at just one day or one snapshot, in time and, say, we've succeeded or failed we. Will need to look across the length of time and, to not be distracted by any, statistical. Noise we. Need to ensure that we have a robust, and fully functioning, healthcare, system, ready, to meet the challenges, ahead and it's, not just our hospitals, but, also ambulatory. Facilities, long-term. Care facilities. Provider. Practices. Everywhere. Health care is delivered, and. What. We see fewer cases and fewer hospitalizations, we. Know our system will be prepared, for, these challenges. Second. We, must have a significantly. Ramped, up diagnostic. Testing plan in place we. Need to at the least double. Our current, testing. Capacity, I'm. Proud, to announce that we are actively, working toward, doubling. Our diagnostic. Testing capacity by the end of May and having. Everything in place from the kits themselves, to the lab capacity. Necessary. To, ensure quick turnaround of. Results. As we've said many times it isn't just a number of tests it's how fast you get them back, we. Will have a flexible, testing, plan that is accessible, to all residents, who need it whether, it be through walk up and drive through sites tests. At local pharmacies, or even, at home testing, capabilities, we, will prioritize, testing, for healthcare workers other. Essential, workers and vulnerable. Populations, and. We. Will ensure those, who test positive will. Be linked to a health care provider. Our. System will also be prepared, to, engaged in targeting. Targeted. Pardon me surveillance. Testing within communities, to, further protect against the resurgence, of kovat. 19 and to build datasets, that can, help us better understand, its, spread. To. Achieve these aims we, will need significant. Support, from our federal partners, and, we will continue to expand, our partnerships, with, private sector labs and with institutions. Like Rutgers. University which. Have created innovative, new. Testing, platforms. And, we are working closely with the White House which, has agreed to be a partner in helping us meet this, important, threshold. With. This expanding. Testing. In place we. Can move forward to our third marker. Robust. Contact. Tracing. Whenever. A new positive covet, 19 test is returned, we must be able to leverage not just that individuals. Recollections. But, also employed new technologies. To, help identify those. With whom that, individual, may have come into contact we. Will need to recruit and, deploy, an army of contact, tracers, whose, sole purpose will, be to identify these individuals, so we can follow up and ensure they. Do not contribute, to further spread of kovat.
19. At. The heart of much of this effort will be our local health officials who. Have done amazing work throughout. This emergency, and backstopping all of this will, be our department, of health and its experienced. And. Dedicated professionals. According. To national guidance and judy has reported. On this earlier. A proper, program will. Require anywhere. From 15, to, 81. Persons, engaged in, contact, tracing for. Every, 100,000. Residents. For. New Jersey this can mean for, anywhere between roughly. 1,300. All the way up to over 7,000. People to, take on this work but. And here's a big button we, are also actively, engaging, a number of technology, companies in a search for innovative. Solutions that can assist in this, massive, undertaking and not, only make the work of human contact tracers, more, efficient, but, perhaps mean. That, we need, fewer, of them. And. This now moves us to our fourth. Step, in securing public, health to, the greatest extent possible we. Will need to provide those who, do test positive in, the future with, a safe and free, place to isolate, themselves and, protect, others from, kovat 19, we. Must also be prepared to support these people with, wraparound, services. As needed. We. Are fully prepared, that. When we restart, our economy, we will seek over 19, cases. Even if we Pat a thousand, even if we get everything, right, we, will see cases that's, not just the nature of the virus as ed and Judy and Christina, and. Have reminded, us but. It is it is the, nature of the reality, when you combine it with a reopening, even, a responsible. Well-timed. Well-structured, reopening. That. Much we are sure about we will see this virus, again our, goal will, be to prevent these new cases from. Multiplying. So. Stop for a second meeting these four benchmarks, a sustained. Drop of the curve, expanded. Testing, contact. Tracing and safe. Places for people isolate. Is critical. To. Giving our residents, confidence, that we are not only in front, of the crisis, but, then when we do restart, our economy, they should not fear going out and being, a part of it and, restarting. Our economy, and returning people to work will, be done methodically. Strategically. And responsibly. And that, is our fifth principle, to. Guide this process tomorrow I will be announcing the formation and the members of the governor's restart, and recovery commission a group. As diverse, as it, is talented. Economists. Academics. Business. Leaders labor. Leaders health, care experts, among them with, local national, and global experience. And knowledge, it. Will be their task to, balance multiple competing needs to ensure we. Arrive at equitable decisions, that work for every community in, our state and. I will ask them to help us and our businesses, leverage. Any and all available federal, funds and programs to, support our recovery, I will give Tom Malinowski, a well-deserved, and, robust. Introduction. But I don't know where would be without our federal partners down there fighting for us every day I will. Ask the Commission, to. Give the highest priority, for reopening, using, a clear standard, of essential.
And Safe, beginning. With businesses, industries. And activities, which, are not only essential to our economy but. Which provide the lowest risk of disease. Transmission. I suspect, mine we're going to want to call that chart back up this, graph up later on when, we engage. In some of the questions then. We can move up the matrix bringing. More businesses, and activities, online until. We achieve a fully, functioning, and open. Economy, as, we. Begin, this restart, however, again. Expect. To see the continuation, of social, distancing, measures, including. Potentially, requirements. For, face coverings, in certain, locations I by the way have become, a disciple, of face coverings, period, I'm not, suggesting that's what the guidance will be but. At least face coverings, in certain locations. And. For, work from home directives. For employees, who do not need to, report to a physical, location to. Pick two, examples. Of what I think we will be living with for, the foreseeable, future I want. By the way nothing, more than to see every Main Street up and down the state filled with shoppers, and diners, once again I want our construction, sites roaring, with activities, once, again I want to see the shore humming. Throughout, the summer we, will move as quickly as we can but. As safely, as we. Must, we. Have to be thoughtful and how to we unfold our economy, this, virus is now among us and our task will be to contain it as best. We can but with our public health protocols, firmly in place and with our health care system prepared, you. Should not fear, heading, back to work or elsewhere. That is our objective. And, finally, we, cannot think of cover 19, as a one-and-done. Whether. We are hit with a rebound of cover 19, or, a different, strain or an altogether new, virus, outbreaks, we have learned valuable lessons, that. We would be foolish to, ignore. Ensuring. New Jersey's resiliency. For the next outbreak and that, no one will be left unprotected, because. Of racial or socio-economic. Status must. Be a part of our response, to. This outbreak kovat. 19 showed no favorites, in ravaging. Our state and neither, will we in preparing. For the next wave we. Must use this window of opportunity to, fill gaps and, fortify. Our healthcare system, I will. Be, looking to see that our hospitals, and health care systems and anywhere else by the way where, health care is delivered have, the bed capacity. Personal. Protective, equipment ventilators. Supplies, and staff they, will need to, provide the highest quality of services. At. The state level we, will ensure that we to have the supplies to backstop, our health care facilities, and our, first responders, and essential, workers that, means building our own state, stockpile. Of PPE from. Masks, to, gloves and everything in between so, we can properly outfit, not just our frontline health. And public safety responders. But. Also our essential, workforce and. It, also means we. Must have ventilators, on hand that we can push out to hospitals, before. And, I say before they hit crisis, mode throughout. This process we have purchased hundreds, of ventilators, don't, think for a moment that we're going to be sending any of them back once, the current emergency ends. We. Cannot find ourselves in. Another situation where, we must rely on the federal or government, or our. Corporate. And philanthropic, partners. By. The way around the world I might add to source what we need we, must build, our, resiliency. Now, it. Governmentally. We now have a playbook that we, put. Together and we can refer to or. Hand off by the way to future, administrations. Complete with the framework for, the dozens, of executive, orders and other, processes. Necessary for, facing. A global pandemic. Head-on an emerging. Stronger, from, it in. The course of two months our entire. World, and our entire world view has changed. Pandemics. Aren't something in a far-off place that, we just read about in the, news anymore we, are living it right here in one of the most, advanced states in the most advanced nation, in, the world and. Even as we work to put new jersey back on the road of progress, and prosperity. We know that this war is still. Far.
From Over. We, need to continue focusing on our social distancing, and taking the steps necessary to, push, the curves of new, cases new. Hospitalizations. And, Kovan, 19 related, deaths down, so. We can move in turn down, this road I don't, know when we'll be able to formally, and finally start this journey hopefully. If we all keep at it it will, be soon but. Just as we began planning our, response. To kovat 19 six. Weeks before our first positive test results, even. Came back from the lab we, will be ready to, put the car in gear as soon, as we see a green, light this. Is a plan for how we move forward not, if we. Move forward so let's do it together, let's. Start by lowering the curve we, could do this if we all keep our focus over the coming weeks and when, we do this it will be that much sooner that, we are able to reach our destination a, New Jersey that is restored, to economic. Health because, we took the steps to, restore and secure. Our collective. Health, that. Said please. Allow me to welcome as I've said many times it. Takes a village, we, need our legislators. We need our whole team we need each and every one of you doing the extraordinary, hard, work including, staying home and staying away from each other even as the weather I'm told will someday improve, thank. You for that you're the single most important, member of our, family of our village because, you have kept this curve flat, enough to allow our hospitals. To, sustain the extraordinary. Influx, of patients, please. Stay at it we need you and I. Can't, think of a more important, member or members, of our community, than our federal delegation in, both, the Senate into, the house across. The aisle we, have as good as it gets anywhere, in America, and a great example of that delegation, is with us today please help me welcome congressman. From, the seventh District Congressman Tom. Malinowski. Thank, You governor thank you everybody and. Thank you above all for the partnership that we have been able to build especially. Over these last few. Difficult, weeks, whether. The. Issue is testing, personal. Protective, equipment aid, for our businesses, aid, for our state relief, for our people our staffs, or you know I personally we, speak every single day and we get the job done and we are absolutely in lockstep on what needs to happen going, forward, look, we are we are in the, second month of, what. I think is the most extraordinary. Collective. Effort. That, Americans. Have undertaken against. A common enemy in certainly. In in my lifetime and. Despite. All, of the things that we may still be arguing about the overwhelming. Majority of Americans, and, the overwhelming majority of New Jerseyans, believe that we are doing the, right thing the overwhelming, majority have. Been willing to make great, personal, sacrifices. Over the last few weeks to, make sure that, their families, their neighbors and their communities are. Healthy. When. I hear from folks, in my district, of. Course they want to see the economy of reopen, but they are not looking for a date they. Are looking for a plan, a plan, like the one that you just laid out your today governor. They. They, understand. That the, reopening, is not something, that, a governor can make happen by waving a magic wand it can only happen when, all of us have the confidence to step, out and go, out to a restaurant to, go back to work to go back to, a mall it's not one person, making a decision it, has to be based on a plan that's based on science, and on sound public health, advice. And that's. What we are working on here together today. Our. Job our fed your federal partners, our job is to make sure that, as we make these sacrifices as, a state and as individual, New Jerseyans, there.
Are Resources. That make it economically. Possible for. To do this that's, what we've been working on through the cares one-act which, we passed several weeks ago and then several days ago with. What, we called an interim, package. Interim, because we know we need to do much, more now. Here's the good news the good news is that today the. Paycheck protection, program, this vital, lifeline, for, our small, business owners in New Jersey and around the country is back. In, business, so, for all of those small business owners who have been trying to hold on who, were frustrated. In the first couple of weeks of this program, because the banks were not returning. Your calls because the loans were not coming through that, program is back in business today. So all of those who had applications. In and who, were waiting I hope, that over the next few days you. Will hear good news and if, you don't and you still have frustrations. And you live in my district, please call my office we, will call the, banks for you we will try to see what's going on and I'm sure every member of our, our federal delegation congressional. Delegation, will, do. The, same now. There's a lot more we need to do to fix that program. One, thing, that we did in the, bill that we just passed was, to set aside a large, share. Of the money for, our smaller, community-based. Banks. And credit unions banks. That, make, a habit, of dealing. With the smallest businesses in, our community we've all seen the, frustrating. Infuriating. Stories, about, larger, publicly, traded companies, that did not need this money that, got in the front of the line and unfortunately. The banks favored, their existing, loan, customers that is not what. We intended that is not what the bill said but, that is unfortunately what happened so we are setting aside more. Of the money for small businesses, unfortunately. We, still have, a frustrating. Refusal, on the part of the administration, and the Senate to fix the eligibility, criteria for, that program and we're going to have to deal with that in the next bill that we passed, the. Other issue that we have been working on and this, has also been intensely, frustrating over. The last couple of weeks is the, need to get relief for, our state governments. Including our state, government in New Jersey and, for our local, and county, government in, the first Kerr's bill we. Approved. A fund of a hundred and fifty billion, dollars, for, our state and local governments, and we, did this because we understood, not, only that states would be taking on new expenses, to, fight this disease but, that they would be seeing a dramatic, loss, in revenue, for, obvious reasons, because the economy, is virtually, shut down.
We, Absolutely, intended. This, money to, be helpful to the states that, are dealing with this loss of revenue we, felt that we had an explicit, commitment, from, the Trump administration that. That would be the case. Unfortunately. It has not been the case because the. State of New Jersey and all other states have received guidance, telling. Them for some reason that, they cannot use, this money to compensate for. Lost revenues, due, to the, kovat 19, epidemic. I was. On the phone last night with speaker, Pelosi, talking. About this very issue she felt as if we had had. A commitment that was betrayed and, we are going to go back as, often it takes to the Trump administration to. Make sure that that first hundred and fifty billion dollars, is freed up right, now as I think we've heard from the governor a lot of that money is not usable. By the states and. Other, local. Entities, that that qualified. For it. The. Second thing we need to do is to, enhance that. Fund and make sure it's available for. Governments whether they are large States or were, small towns. And you've. Heard how, this has gotten partisan, in Washington, over, the last several, days this will be the main issue we are debating in the next cares bill that, we will be introducing, in the House of Representatives, shortly, we, believe this is necessary, we've, heard some. Very divisive, rhetoric from, leader McConnell, in, the United States, Senate regarding. Well. His attitude, about what he called a quote blue state bailout, it. Is irresponsible, and in, my view also, unsustainable. Irresponsible. Because after all it is states like New Jersey that. Create, the economic wealth, of the United States, including. By. Paying for most, of the things that states like Kentucky and, Tennessee and Alabama and, Indiana do, to. Take care of their people of education, and in health we. Get, a New Jersey ninety, cents back from the federal government for every dollar that we pay in taxes, the, average resident, of Kentucky, gets two, dollars and 41 cents back, is outrageous, to, suggest that, somehow we are asking, for, a bailout it's. Irresponsible because. If we end up and if, states and local governments end up having to lay off teachers and. Firefighters and, police officers and other, state and local employees guess. What happens they collect unemployment guess, who pays the federal government for, businesses, we, have set up a plan, deliberately. To encourage, continued, employment we don't want people to go on, unemployment why. Should it not be the same for state and local government, employees and, finally. It is unsustainable, because. We are not just talking about. Employees. Of states, we're. Talking about state, and local government, down, to the township level, in the, United States. America, I represent. A district, the seventh district in New Jersey that, has not one single town, with more than 50,000, people in it every. Single, one of my towns. Is. Hurting, right now every, single one is seeing tax revenue, dry, up every single one is, debating. How. Long they can continue. To pay those school, teachers those cops and those, firefighters. This. Is about the, survival of small-town. America. And, at the end of the day I'm not sure if Mitch McConnell, wants to be the person who is responsible, for telling small-town. America. To go to hell that's. What he's doing right, now well. In my district, today we. Are going to be releasing a letter that's, gonna be signed that right now we have 45, or 50 mayors, and freeholders. About. Half of them are Republicans to. Our congressional leadership, saying, please, approve. This, relief, money it is not a bailout it is to enable state, and local government in the United States of America, to exist through, this, crisis.
And I. Think that is a bipartisan. Call that you are going to see coming from state, governments, county, governments local governments, from, across this country I know a number of my colleagues in the house are generating, similar letters it's, gotten partisan, in Washington, it is completely, nonpartisan, in state, capitals and in small-town America, and. We are going to make that argument and I believe we are going to win that argument, in. The next bill that, passes the certainly. The House of Representatives, but I believe the next bill that will go to, the president for his signature we. Owe this to everybody. Who is making a sacrifice right now to, everybody who has been lost to, everybody who's putting their own self-interest. To one side until, our. Community, in our state in our country is healthy again thank you very much. Top, thank you for your leadership. To. Take the the. Cents. In dollars and turn it into the total, numbers, consistent. With what you've just said we send, over. Seventy. Billion dollars more, to Washington, the federal government, than we receive. Kentucky. Gets back, almost. A hundred and fifty, billion dollars. More, than they put in. Talk. About reading from your own book right yeah every, state generated. As much, gave. As much as New Jersey there, would be a massive surplus. Now, in the, federal budget not a deficit. So. We do need I just want to reiterate thank. You Tom for everything. You're doing and, you made a point about the mayors and freeholders this is not a partisan, point right now this is overwhelmingly. Doing, what's right for our state for. Our people, for our country, and. I said what I said last week I would I would have said it if Mitch, McConnell were Democrats, just completely, irresponsible and. Just, to use this as if we had a very good call, this morning I thought with a congressional, delegation. Both. Senators, as well as the, the full delegation in, the house and. And. I. Repeat, now what I've said several times in this room but also on the call Senator. Bob Menendez, in the Senate has. Got a five hundred billion dollar bill, co-sponsored. By Senator Cassidy, a Republican, from Louisiana which. Does exactly what Thomas, referring. To and there's a chance it sounds like that the house may have a bill that is similar, if not even larger, and that's what the doctor ordered right now right yes that's actually. My bill that's your bill and. Also bipartisan, so again the key is we have about 140 co-sponsors. A. Number. Of Republicans, in, that list I think every member is hearing this from. Their hometowns, from their state, governments. This is not partisan. Back home, it has been made partisan, for, reasons that are mysterious, to me by, a few people in Washington, DC that is what we will have to overcome over the coming days a. Thank you again for that and for everything Tom it, is a real treat to, have my partner in government, back with us today, she. Has been extraordinary. As, always particularly, in this crisis, not, just as lieutenant, governor but, also in, running the, Department, of Community Affairs which, which touches every, speaking of small towns touches every single, one of them in every corner of this, state and would love to ask her. To say a few words please help, me welcome the lieutenant governor the great state of New Jersey the one the only the singular, Sheila, Oliver, thank. You very much governor. You. Know I think that you. And Congressman. Malinowski. Hit the nail on the head. We. Have to prioritize, health. Public health and I, think governor the road back, is. Reflective. Of the sentiment. Of the people of New Jersey, in. A very short period of time the. Are people, in New Jersey have. Had to learn. With. Intensity. About, a disease, no. One ever knew. Existed and in, a short period of time as we, have seen what, has happened, in our, part, of the Northeast. Corridor New, Jersey, being. Number, two behind the, state, of New York in the number of people who have become infected and the, number of people who have been hospitalized. And the, number of people that, we have lost I think, that. New. Jerseyans, understand. We. Cannot just tomorrow, flip. A switch and, go, back to life as normal. Being. Normal. Pre-coated. 19. And I. Think that if, you travel, around the state if you go into the various counties, if you visit. Some of the cities you, will see, that people already. Are, beginning, to, reorient, themselves. And focus. On health. You, know for those of you that have. Elder. Grandmothers, or you, remember, some of your elder. Uncles. And aunts, they always told you when you were young if you don't have health, you, don't have, anything. I, think, the road back, is very, measured.
I Think. It is tempering. And it, is combining. The, needs of getting, our economy, our economy back, on track but at the same time. Prioritizing. Health. Wellness. And. Sustaining. Life, in this state you, know it's it's very interesting, at the Department, of Community Affairs we. Deal with all. 565. Municipalities. We, have been on the phones constantly. In the past month and a half with, mayor's with, City Council, people with. Freeholders. With, people. Who chair various, boards, and authorities, across, the state and I. Think that. What. Has. Been shown through. The leadership, of the governor, it, has created a, real. Unity. Between, and, amongst, people. From one state of the other from, one end of the state to the other and Congressman. Malinowski, pointed, out the. Divisiveness, that you see on Capitol. Hill in Washington. We. Are not seeing that in the state of New Jersey I think, that this. Shared, experience. Kovat, knows no, neighborhood. It knows no zip code it knows, no. Socioeconomic, status. And I, think it has snapped, us back, into. Reality. In this, state about. The, role of government. What. Government. Can do in the lives of people and, governor. I just want to tell you that our, May. And, our. Local, elected officials. Are pleased. With the leadership you have brought to, this, experience. That we are having and could. Not be more. Pleased, that, you are taking, the deliberate, steps that. You are taking so I want to thank you for that, thank, you Sheila and thank you for everything you're doing and, you. Look at what we've got in terms of rental relief, and folks dealing with mortgages, and evictions, and whatnot so, much of that runs through the Department. Of Community Affairs I can't thank you enough you've you've. Never you've. Been working morning noon and night and you've been an extraordinary, partner in, peacetime. And now on war so bless you and thank. You you make, a fair point I was actually I didn't agree with everything. He stood before by, a longshot but I always admired Ronald, Reagan as a, guy who, could seize. The moment but, I got to call him out on this when he when he said government is not the answer government, is the problem that is not the case today with, all due respect to the president we. Need government now more than ever before and we're reminded in this awful tragedy of the, role that's indispensable. That, government, can play, and. Our job is to deliver as much of that it's, as consistently.
And As comprehensively. As possible. And back to Tom's point we can't do that without, the back and fill of a lot of federal money to allow us to continue to deliver for. Our residents, Sheila thank you for everything. I'm. Not used to having Judy pursue Kelly so far from me after. Two months I feel like we're, always cheek, to jowl as they say but please, help me welcome the woman who needs no introduction, the Commissioner of the Department of Health Judy Percy Kelly Thank. You governor and lieutenant governor congressman. Malinowski. As. The, governor shared our hospitals, reported, six thousand four hundred and seven, hospitalizations. Of. Which. 1801. Individuals. Are, in critical care and seventy. Per 72, percent. Those individuals, are on ventilators. We're. Actually seeing, slight, decline, in our, hospitalizations, in the northern part of the state and a. Flattening. In the central, part of the state in. A slight uptick, in, the, southern part of the state last, evening, there were five hospitals, that. Were on divert for, portions, of the evening and night three. Of them were, from central, New Jersey two, of them, from, North. Jersey, none. From the south. Today, we're reporting. 2146. New cases from 10:00 p.m. last. Evening. I, just want to remind you that means it's not comparable to what, we've been reporting, in the past to, try to collect this data in, the morning but. The hospital, data is from 10:00 p.m. the night before so. Combining. That seems. To make a little bit more. Sense. At this point. Along. With the governor where we at the Department of Health are sad, to report a hundred and six new. Deaths. For, a total of six thousand, forty four fatalities. In our, state, the, breakdown of deaths by race and ethnicity is, as, follows, white. 53.2%. Black. 20.3%. Hispanic. Sixteen. Point three percent Asian. Five. Point one percent and, other. Five, percent we. Have also looked. At a hospital, discharge. Destination. That's been a question at some. Of our prior conferences. A sample. Of, 773. Cases, reveals, that. Twenty, four point seven percent of, those, cases were, discharged, to a skilled nursing facility. 3%. To. A rehab. Facility. 1.8%. -. Hospice. 10.8%. Are. Among. Individuals. Who have expired. 0.9%. Left. Against, medical advice. 2.9. 8%. Were discharged, to another facility type, and. 50.3. 2%. Were. Discharged, oh. There. Are 476. Long-term care facilities, in the state now, reporting. Cases. Of kovat 19 for. A total of over 16,000. 277. Cases, in our long-term facilities. The. State's veterans homes are now reporting. 263. Residents. Positive. And, sadly. 97, residents. Have expired, from, their total census of. 714. Our. State psychiatric hospitals. Are. Reporting a hundred and fifty-two patients, have tested positive and, they. Have reported nine deaths and that has stayed steady for, the last number of days, our. Field medical stations, have treated, a total. Of, 346. Individuals. And have, discharged. 270. Of them. According. To lab data from this morning, of the, lab sending, us their coded 19:00 results, two. Hundred and four thousand, six hundred and fifty-one individuals. Have been tested, with 88. Thousand, 64, testing, positive for. A positivity, rate of, 43. Percent. That. Ends my report stay. Connected stay safe, and stay healthy. Judy, thank you the positivity, rate just for folks watching at home who may be watching maybe. Just today or others, who have been watching every day that, has slowly begun to drift down over the past week.
Either. You or add any any color on that particular, trend, which, I assume, was a positive one at. U of a mic on you or not. You. Do there. We go. Yes, thank you, yes. It's definitely a positive trend as you've mentioned we're seeing these positivity, rates gradually, decline and what you've been talking about here is our cumulative positivity, rates which means you're, having hundreds of thousands of tests it takes a long time to move that gradually, down we, also look at the positivity, rates on any given day meaning, daily, over time and that moves faster, as well. As we do some additional looking, at the different, areas. Of New Jersey to see what's happening you know so for example at its peak in Bergen County about, 60 percent of all their tests were coming up positive at, this point it down to about 30% or so of all the tests becoming positive so that's a huge difference as far as that goes as, the Commissioner mentioned, we are seeing some, increases in the south, but. Overall the state is definitely, trending in the right way when it comes to those positivity, numbers. Sorry. To make you get unmasked. There. So. That's an important point for folks who may have missed that it's not just that the number cumulative ly is trending down but. The snapshots, of recent. Moments. Is, meaningfully, down from, Peaks. And. That's a sort of that's on the list of trends, that we're gonna be watching very carefully to get back to the where, that road. To recovery goes, counties. Judy, staying, the same in terms of the positive test results Lee still these, six counties, still overwhelmingly. Have the highest concentration. This. Positive, test results, in sadly fatalities, in all 21 counties but. In order Bergen Hudson, Essex, Union. Passaic, and Middlesex continued, to have the big bulk, of them the racial data, is consistent, and troubling, as, it has been since we've been reporting it and I. For one was encouraged, that 50 plus percent of people are walking, out of the hospital and going home, which. Is a which, is another data. Point that I think we could take some comfort in the folks who are beating this at, least in 50%, of the cases are, beating it so much so that they can go home and, in some cases I'm. Sure with a visiting, physical, therapist, or a visiting. Nurse but, the fact of the matter is they're going home so thank, you to each of you for that. Well. I said. I witness like Colin just because our program, is so thick and we got a lot of reporters here and by the way folks we're, gonna start over here but I'm gonna ask you to limit your questions to one or two at, most just because we got a big crowd and we have to go to the White House, virtually. Talk. If you could pad off subject but importantly, one of your guys was shot last night and just give us a quick sense of how he's doing he's doing well governor I had the ability to talk to him this morning he'll, probably be in there for a week or so very. Lucky, the, investigation. Is ongoing in, the Attorney General and I plan to stream. Live tomorrow, morning from the rock the details, of what we found so far so, everybody. Who's reached out to both, him and his family greatly. Appreciated. And. He's doing well I spoke.
I Pat. Let, us know late. Or I guess early Saturday morning that this. Had transpired, I had the honor on Sunday. Morning so yesterday to speak, not just with Pat but with his mom not, your mom but the troopers mom, and. I don't want to get him engaged indifferently. Was it his girlfriend or was his girlfriend, his girlfriend so I don't want to jump the gun there but any of any event as you can imagine it was a pretty traumatic, and. It sounds like he's lucky a lucky guy and a great guy I'm gonna speak to him later on this afternoon and I'm really looking forward to it so. Thanks. To everybody who was up, here with you we're going to start over here and again I'd ask you to keep as. A favor today to keep it fairly short Nikita I. Might, not be able to grant you that favor. So. We reported this weekend that some mail-in. Ballots, delivered. To apartment buildings are simply being left in the lobbies and not actually delivered, to mailboxes. Or voters, doors, do. You have any plans to address these issues with, the postal service do you have any concerns, that. Ballast. For tenants. Living. The. Majority of whom live in apartment, buildings as opposed to single-family homes are being. Treated differently in this regard do you have any concerns about a, the. All VPM elections in May being compromised, by this sort of activity and do. You have any concerns about voter fraud given that large. Numbers of ballots are being left in public places what. One more please, sure. And then I have one more from me and then L is have one more please any, timeline on July, 7 and all vbm and, is that still on the table I. Don't. Have given the gravity of what we're talking about I don't I don't have crisp. Answers, for. You I will. Get mine let's get the team to follow up with you on the mail-in ballots being left in lobbies I actually didn't see that story that's obviously not what we want, we. Want you.
Know While, we're fighting this war democracy. And. Other things have to go on so we take that very seriously, but it's I'll, have to have to come back to you there's no update on July 7th and we'll give you an update I promise as soon as we got it thank you though please. Hi. I, was curious the the long-term care facility, numbers I know there had been a reconciliation, going. On with those do, those that, we see on the dashboard now, include, only residents, or still residents, and staff and then. Governor. All of the benchmarks, and and kind of goals and ideas that you mentioned today can. You give us any insight into your priorities, on what industries. Or business might come, back online first. And any, best, guess on time frame for this and just, one more. I know, there's a priority on testing vulnerable, populations, what's, the plan for prisons, as far as I know there's no testing, being done in the facilities, now. So. I wonder if we'll see any of that before people are released back to their homes okay. Judy. I'll start maybe ask you to come in behind. That I, think, could you pull up behind that the the the risk low risk chart. Yeah. So I think. You should probably assume, that, we. Will this. Is not up here just for our health but this is something that will will. Guide us I think, it's a mistake that we. Would and I want to caution folks don't, expect a for you accountants, out there don't expect a LIFO strategy, here. In other words last in first out in, other words a reversal, of what we did, that's. Not necessarily, going to be it might be but it won't necessarily be. Consistent. With. With. What we would do but, it's going to be the workplaces. And. Other venues where. We can be we. Have a high degree of confidence that social distancing, and other. Related. Norms, can be effectively. Executed. So. In. By the way I love, music I love going to concerts, concerts. Are. Not. Going to be anytime soon as an example where there's a high high, amount of debt density meaning the risk is high you. You're up in that low you're in that lower right hand corner. You're. In the lower right hand corner where. It's high risk and, I love music so don't take this the wrong way but it's not essential, the, stuff we want to have is the. Essential. Stuff coming, back online. Food, chain other essential, elements where. We can. Properly. And folks can properly. Adjudicate. And and. And also defend. An exhibit. That they're actually social. Distancing, mask, policies. Again I'm a big mask I've become a big mask, person. I hope. I've, gotten. Pinged even just sitting here, respectfully. I might add I love. The level, of respect but I hope, sooner than later, assuming. Folks could do it right we can get to things like parks. Which. Some. Would say is non-essential I would say for mental health and other reasons there's another set, of arguments that we're hearing all the time that they are essential, and we respect we, respect, that but with it's got to be done the. Right way. With. That I believe. We are testing, in prisons by the way I don't think the premise of that last question is accurate is that right we're. Implementing, a plan to test everyone who's being furloughed pursuant, to your executive order and with the Commissioner working, on a broader plan for the prison, population, and staff I think. That's gonna be on, the list so, I'm. Confusing, the folks who may be considered. For furlough with the photo overall. Population. I mentioned. Volleyball, communities, and that certainly is going to be on the list of priorities. Judy. Anything on that as well as on. Reconciling. Long-term, care numbers the, long-term care numbers are still being reconciled, we hope to finish that by the end of the week so. Some, of it is clean, some, of it still has. Employees. And residents. And, vulnerable. Populations, we, do we do determine at. Corrections, is. On that list and. We. Have a testing, strategy, task force we're, looking at refining. The definition, of vulnerable, populations. And also priority, populations. Thank. You you, guys. Either, you gentlemen no ma'am. Hold. On one sec. Hi. On. The reopening, plan as you make decisions about what's going to reopen when will that apply to the. State across the board or will. It be a decision made county, by county or, region by, region since, as several people mentioned there are different situations in north central and south, fir. For. Various. Measures and also yesterday. There was an outage in the unemployment site, online applications, were down from.
What I understand, it is back up but can you address what the problem, was and if anything is being done to, prevent that outage from happening again, I. Realize. It didn't you asked me about when I don't know when I think it's measured in weeks but that assumes that everybody is doing, their job and. So, everybody, folks, the most if you want to get. Back to some semblance of normal the most important, thing you could do right now is to. Keep doing what you're doing stay, at home stay. Away from each other, that, is job number one in the extent to which that is that. Continues, to succeed. It, allows us to start. Going down that road. -, too early to tell on on regional, versus. Versus. Statewide I've, used, this example before. But. I it. Must be referred. To again, because it's a good example some. Counties have said hey wait a minute we're. Less dense we. Have, fewer. People. Fewer. Visitors, normally, to our parks. Here's, the problem and this is you know unintended. Consequences. Here are very much in our mind that, that may be true but the, minute you open up two or three parks. Either. A county park or a state park in those counties you've. Got the rest of the counties if not, the rest of the region showing, up on a good weather weekend, day in particular in those parks and that, scared the heck out of us I mentioned this a few weeks ago I think was on April 4th. And 5th if my memory serves me, that. It was the first warm weather weekend. And we, surveyed, with Pat and his folks and the Park. Police surveyed the parks and they had congregations. And a lot of out-of-state plates so. Now, having said that I mentioned this, within. The past couple of days we, have had successful, regional. Steps. Taken, the most important which is duties. Regionalizing. The healthcare realities, into the north central and south and that's been hugely. Effective. As. We built that capacity. As we realize we needed to move assets around whether, they be ventilators. Or beds or even hospitals. On divert and they had to move patients that. Worked really well so, I would I would never say never but. My bias will be. Leaning, toward making, state, decisions, statewide. Decisions. Unless we see a real unique reason, to do otherwise or unless, we see a really, bifurcated. Reality. In, terms of the virus and its impact on the state I can't. Really answer your questions I think. Unemployment. Had crashed I know I don't know why it crashed but, it did crash and it was back up I was told at 6 p.m. last night, and. So they're still chopping through and I know folks. Out there are frustrated, I don't blame you we, had this conversation on the call with Tom and his colleagues this morning this. Will make this will not make anyone feel any better but, we, are leagues ahead of virtually. Every other state but there's still a backlog, I know folks are still frustrated, you won't lose one penny I promise, you including of your federal plus up thank you for that we'll come down to Matt in the front here Matt. So. Thank You governor I understand your apprehension about wanting to give a date but, it appears, in some of the stuff that you laid out you talked about testing, doubling. Maybe by the end of May it, looks like some of those other measures, that you implemented could take a couple of weeks, or additional, months I'm, just curious how you square that then maybe with things like opening up schools possibly, in the middle of May and. Maybe. Just some sort of clarity if there's any light, at the end of the tunnel for New Jerseyans, on. Unemployment gov it's curious, when will unemployment, system be able to handle gig workers and self employers, and also, if you can give an update on the the number of backlog backlog. At the, Department of Labor for unemployment, claims and just, lastly you. Know why can't more businesses, it another question from raters why can't more businesses, that consider. Non-essential. Open for curbside and, delivery, and things like that is that something that you can would. You reconsider, expanding. The the sort of businesses. That can be open or closed at this time give it an example I, don't. Know okay, but I mean basically, I guess you, know if it's a store that might sail like a equipment. Walking women or something like that some. Of this I don't have and. We'll get to the what the backlog looks like but I was told the backlog this morning I think. Is back. To what they have have. Normally been dealing with pre-crisis, did you hear the same thing Matt yeah but, we'll get you more information on the backlog and help me out here backlog, where, it stands today on unemployment as well as specifics, on gig.
Workers, And self-employed, and those were the independent, contractors, you're you're rightfully, raised was, a particular challenge. So. We'll come back to you, yeah. I think this is weeks I'm not sure it's months Matt if and. And I I, don't want to be accused of not giving light at the end of the tunnel I think we've been very clear on. Both sides, and I think we have to continue to be clear on both sides you have to continue to stay home until, we say otherwise I, know it's frustrating I know it's so as the weather someday will get better is. Going to really get. To folks and I get that completely, but. It's working and this is the number one weapon we have in this fight, but. It is working so you could say both of those things you can see the hospitalization, numbers, they, are coming down we, have to continue to see them coming down. And. And so. I'd. Love to say that. It's tomorrow but, I don't want folk it isn't but I also don't want folks to lose their hope because we're winning this and we will get through this sadly. Not without casualty, but we will get through this but. I think it's a number of weeks, and. I and I mean that I've. Sort. Of led the witness I mentioned, that we we, believe will be able to at least double our testing, by the end of May so. That's basically. Five. Weeks from now, to. Put, a to, put that on it, so. I would. Not say it's a number of months but I also would remind folks that these viruses, come back even if we do it exactly right Judy. And Ed will tell us they come back no, matter how good we might be nothing. New on schools will promised an answer by May 15th and we, will abide by that and. That's that's where that's where I'd be on all that thank you for that we'll come back to you on the unemployment insurance as, well as the gig in the. The, self-employed. Real. Quick testing. Because the other day we heard that the Rutgers Rutgers. Spit testing we were talking about 10,000, maybe in a week or two how, did this change to. Double the testing, capacity now, to the end of May. Yeah. Because it's, there's, different there's different parts of the food chain there's, the actual testing, materials, you need depending, on which test you're doing.
If. It's a viral test you still need the health care worker and the PPE, how. Quick is the turnaround. The. Reagents. So. The answer is you, know I'm also not going to over promise and under deliver how's, that maybe. That helps square thank, you sir, two, for you governor people, want to know why there is no response, from your phone number they're saying it's either busy or the voicemail is full and, also. You, stated that testing will be doubled by the end of May the, current tests are hitting a rough ceiling, of 3,000, to 4,000, over the last two weeks are, you concerned that current testing, presents, an incomplete, picture of, the outbreak in New Jersey and, how do you know that anything other than extensive. Asymptomatic, testing. Will give you the data that you need I. Have. No idea. What your the answer, to your question of what my phone is ringing. Busy. This. Phone by the way is literally, as I sit here exploding. So. I, don't. Know I can't give you a good answer on that but. I feel. Like certain, days every nine million folks in New Jersey have my number so I'll get a little bit of a opposite. Feel and I welcome that by the way. I'll let ed and Judy answer the latter but I don't think three or four thousand is the number that we're looking at we were I think yet you had said we were seven to nine thousand, and that was two weeks ago and we're, up from there. There. May be a question of when, they're being how long it's taking to process them remember we've, said two things about testing, we need a lot more of it and we need a rapid, response because. Otherwise what good is that if we think we've eliminated, community. Spread I, come, in from out of state I test, positive but, I don't know that for a week. What. Good is it at that point the cats you. Know the horses out of the barn so. But. The, question and in particular. How. Do you address the question of howdy how comfortable, can we how confident, we can we be in the absence of complete, asymptomatic, testing. Of asymptomatic, folks, around the state. Yes. Again, in a perfect world we'd essentially test everybody to know exactly, what was happening and we all know that that isn't possible. Yes, our tests are increasing, not decreasing we. Talked. A couple weeks ago at about seven to nine thousand, tests and now I'd say we're probably about, 2,000, tests or so more over, that every day on average so we're probably in the nine, to eleven thousand but don't quote you know an exact number it does vary from day to day part. Of what happens, when you're talking about trying to get a sense of what's happening in an abortive population and in a symptomatic population. Or to know what's happened in the past then. You're talking not only about the, test to detect a virus which is the. Nasal. Swab or the spit tests or so forth then, you begin talking about doing the blood tests look for the antibodies, to get a sense about what's happening in the population, and, a broader sense and we are moving forward together, with Rutgers to do some of that testing, to get a sense about what's been happening in. Broader. Swaths of New Jersey as well so. While our picture will never be completely, complete, we'll never have as much information as we absolutely. Want, we're definitely working more and more towards, that picture every day. I'm. Going to say as a non-medical, professional and then do a question of the Baxter we'll go to the back there is a non-medical, professional, I would say I'm going to predict the following, nevermind. The end of May and which would put a marker out in terms of when we believe, we will at least be able to double based.
On All the conversations, that I'm a part of and our teams are part of I think we will be in a dramatically, different place, as a, state and perhaps as a country, on testing, three months from now I'm just gonna pick that number, there's. This just so much happening. Right now and a lot of it I'm happy to say is happening, right here in New Jersey you mentioned Rutgers that's, the best example but it's not the only example the. That were a big healthcare. Biopharmaceutical. State with great institutions, of higher education. Boy. Is that coming home to roost for us right now and that's a good thing sir. Governor, Phil Andrews New Jersey news network really quick as. Of today how would you envision Memorial. Day. Moving. Forward and your, thoughts an out-of-state, residents, taking advantage of Jersey Shore rentals, and going, back and forth in his climate. Yeah. I'm not sure I've got a crisp answer for you on Memorial, Day I know what it normally is and I love it and I hope it can be some some. Form of that. That. Is. You. Know it starts. In. Memorial. Day is what five weeks from the four weeks apart me from today. I. Can't. Give you a full, answer I, hope, as I've said many times that, we have some semblance of, norm. On. The shore this summer but it will be some semblance of it I just don't envision, being. In, tight, spaces. Without. Real restrictions, on capacity. And social. Distancing, and frankly even on. The beach I just don't see it whether. Or not we're at a better, place. Four. Weeks from today I sure as heck hope we are I. Think this is our shot I think. We've got a shot if again if everybody keeps doing what they're doing if we let our guard down all bets, are off that that, heat map which we didn't show you today just because we had a lot of slides. Well mine let's get that back up tomorrow. That. Map that map has, shown. Largely, really, good progress but it slipped the past couple of days there was a Washington Post heat. Map over, the weekend that showed that we had slipped a hair a. Hair, we. Cannot let that happen in the extent to which folks, keep. Doing what they're doing to, put it in the positive we. Increase, our chances. Meaningfully, of getting. That that, semblance, of dorm on the shore sooner, than later and I hope I will probably the happiest guy in Jersey if not America. If that semblance, of dorm comes in by. Memorial Day I worry. About out-of-state, stuff and I'm where, I want, us to be open for business. The. Good news is folks. Who travel, to. New Jersey. On. The shore and rent. Or. Even own a second, home are overwhelmingly. Either New Jerseyans, or from the region there, were some folks who come from outside the region for sure and. In a normal time I'd want more of them but. But for this time and for, this purposes at least they, tend to be in the region, my. Word, at this moment sitting here on April, whatever.
It Is is however. We, want folks to be in their primary, residence the. Shore community. Particularly. In the offseason does not have the healthcare infrastructure, to. Support, the. Challenges, that this virus has, put. Upon us so. I would hope that folks continue to adhere to that whether. Or not were four weeks from now we're, in a some. Kind of a more, normal reality. Where folks can continue. To do again, particularly. If they may be coming from the, region that, is consistent, with the this the seven state council, that we've established where. While we're not doing things exactly alike, we're doing things broadly in a similar fashion that. Would give some comfort but for the time being at least we, need folks to stay in their primary homes thank, you I promise you we'll update as we have something sir. I didn't, recognize you there I think you got a different, hairdo. Inspired by you. Someone. Else's cut other than mine but thank you. Governor, any reaction, the mayor full up opening up some, of Jersey City's parks and, can. You give us an update on New. Jersey's, furloughing. Of prisoners how. Many are planned to be released when, do, we have a timeline for their release, and, why, furlough. And not commute, sentences as, other states have done in the region. And can you clarify what's, included in the total number of cases judy. Is. That that's, done by county but do we know if that's more in health care or in the general public. Total. Number of positive cases so, the on
2020-04-29 23:46