Today the Governor announced that an additional 1,297 confirmed positive test results for COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 143,905. He also announced another 201 deaths, bringing the statewide total to 10,138.
New hospitalizations continue a downward trend, down 66% since the peak in mid-April and 37% in the last two weeks. The total number of those hospitalized are down 49% since peak and 34% in the last two weeks. Patients in ICU units are down 39% since peak and 31% in the last two weeks. And patients on ventilators are down 44% since peak and 27% in the last two weeks.
68,685 state residents filed for unemployment last week, the lowest total since the start of the state of emergency in March. In total, 1.1 million residents have filed claims.
State revenue is down 8% since this time last year. April revenue collections were down 60%, not an unexpected drop since the tax filing deadline was pushed back to July.
In case you missed it:
In the past week, the Governor signed the following Executive Orders as a result of the pandemic:
Executive Order 140, which creates and names the Restart and Recovery Advisory Committee. Please note that the Government subcommittee includes, in addition to League Assistant Executive Director Mike Cerra, the following Mayors, including representatives of the League (NJLM), the Urban Mayors Association (NJUMA) and the Conference of Mayors (NJCM):
• Ras Baraka, Newark, NJLM Executive Board, VP, NJUMA;
• Bill Chegwidden, Wharton, 2nd VP, NJLM, President, NJCM;
• Al Kelly, Bridgeton, Past President, NJLM, President, NJUMA;
• Janice Kovach, Clinton, 1st VP, NJLM;
• John McCormac, Woodbridge; Former State Treasurer;
• Janice Mironov, East Windsor, Past President, NJLM, 1st VP, NJCM;
• Frank Moran, Camden;
• Susan Shin Angulo, Cherry Hill;
• Jaclyn Veasey, Evesham
Executive Order 141, mandating that all local, county, and regional health departments use the CommCare platform to support their contact tracing efforts.
Executive Order 142, Permitting Resumption of Non-Essential Construction, Curbside Pickup at Non-Essential Retail Businesses, and Gatherings in Cars. On Wednesday, Governor Murphy issued Executive Order 142, which pulls back some of the restrictions previously placed on nonessential retail businesses, construction projects, and social events. EO 142 permits the resumption of nonessential construction, curbside pickup at nonessential retail businesses, and car gatherings for the purpose of drive-through and drive-in events. The construction and nonessential retail provisions will take effect at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, May 18, 2020, while the car gathering provisions took effect immediately. While business and construction projects previously shutter can resume, they are subject to strict social distancing and mitigations guidelines and requirements. For more information on Executive Order 142 please see the League recent blog post.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x137.
Executive Order 143 permitting the reopening of all public and private beaches, boardwalks, lakes and lakeshores effective 6:00 a.m. on May 22, 2020 with certain parameters. While bathrooms, showering and changing areas can be open certain facilities and equipment, such as water fountains, picnic areas, playgrounds, amusement parks and arcades, pavilions, and water/splash parks will remain closed until further notice. For more information on Executive Order 143 please see the League recent blog post (insert link)
The Governor also announced expanded testing and contact tracing. The state will be able to administer 20,000 tests per day by the end of the month with the goal of 25,000 tests per day by the end of June. Currently, there are 135 public and private testing sites operating in the State. The state is using mobile testing units. In addition to Rite Aid offering testing at 11 locations, the Governor will announce CVS have swab and send testing at 50 locations by the end of the month.
See the League COVID-19 page for all our resources and communications.
In light of the current pandemic, we remind you of NJ Mental Health Cares; the state’s behavioral health information and referral service offers assistance to people dealing with anxiety and stress-related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Residents can call 1-866-202-HELP (4357) for free, confidential support. NJ Mental Health Cares will be answered from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week by live trained specialists.
According to the New Jersey Department of Labor, that have been over 930,000 new unemployment claims filed since the start of the state of emergency. There are now almost 622,000 collecting unemployment.
Contact: Michael F. Cerra, Assistant Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x120