March 23, 2020
COVID-19 Update
At a 12 noon press conference today, Governor Murphy indicated there are 935 new reported positive tests for coronavirus since yesterday, with 7 additional deaths. This brings the statewide total to 2,844 positive results statewide and 27 deaths. He also indicated that this continued increase is not unexpected, as more testing sites come online.
The Governor also signed an Executive Order suspending elective surgeries and invasive procedures for adults, including both medical and dental. This will be effective 5:00 PM on Friday, March 27. This order will apply to all operations that can be safely delayed.
One item the that otherwise accurate media have been reporting in error regards the Governor’s EO 107 “Stay at Home Order”. This order does not direct non-essential employees to stay home. In fact it specifically permits people to report to, or perform jobs (Sec. 2). And on conference calls the Governor’s office confirmed municipal government is an essential function – as opposed to non-essential retail which must be closed (Sec.6).
In the next few days, we are expecting a number of guidance documents from the Division of Local Government Services, including on a number of issues that the League and individual elected officials have raised. We will review those and share our analysis with you via a free webinar. Watch for information about that.
In case you missed it, we call your attention to our advisory over the weekend on the Governor’s Executive Orders 107 and 108.
We also call your attention to the Saturday Town Crier blog post which summarizes bills signed into law in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please monitor the League COVID-19 page for the latest updates, references and resources.
Contact: Michael F. Cerra, Assistant Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x120.