Gov. Phil Murphy has issued a flurry of executive orders designed to help New Jersey combat the spread and the impact of the coronavirus that has ravaged the globe.
In fact, Murphy has signed 24 orders in all — including ones that created a task force, closed schools, moved elections, and ordered residents to stay at home.
As New Jersey continues to cope with the second-most confirmed cases (61,85 as of Sunday) and deaths (2,350) from COVID-19 among American states, here’s a snapshot at each of Murphy’s orders so far and when they happened:
FEB. 3
0 total cases, 0 total deaths in New Jersey
Coronavirus Task Force
The virus hadn’t reached New Jersey, and the U.S. had only 11 cases, but it was already spreading through more than two dozen countries. Murphy launched a task force to gather experts and state officials to coordinate a plan to “prepare for and respond to the public health hazard posed" by the virus. The state also created a website and a hotline — 1-800-222-1222 — to answer questions.
By March 3, Murphy and state officials warned the outbreak would likely spread into the state, though the average risk to most Americans remained low. The following day, the state announced its first probable COVID-19 case.
MARCH 9
11 cases, 0 deaths
State of Emergency
Five days later — and five days after he had successful surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his kidney — Murphy declared a state of emergency and a public-health emergency because of the virus. The order authorized the state to deploy emergency personnel and resources, as well as qualify the state for any federal funds.
New Jersey announced its first COVID-19 death the next day.
MARCH 16
178 cases, 2 deaths
‘Aggressive’ Social Distancing
With many school districts already closed and some local towns having issued quarantine and curfew orders, Murphy’s near-lockdown of the entire state started here.
A day after promising New Jerseyans can expect “more draconian measures” in the near future, Murphy joined the governors of New York and Connecticut to announce a sweeping regional plan to reduce human interaction to reduce the virus’ spread — otherwise known as “social distancing.”
Bemoaning a lack of federal direction from President Donald Trump’s administration, the governors ordered all all movie theaters, casinos and gyms in their three states to close indefinitely and said restaurants and bars could only offer takeout or delivery. No more dining in.
“We want everyone to remain at home — not out,” Murphy said.
In another announcement that day, Murphy ordered all public and private schools — including pre-K and college — in New Jersey to close.
In the coming days, Murphy added indoor malls, amusement parks, barber shops, and salons to the shuttered list.
MARCH 19
742 cases, 9 deaths
Delaying Some Elections
Saying he wanted to protect democracy and voters at the same time, Murphy rescheduled a number of local elections to May 12 and that all would be vote-by-mail.
Halting Evictions and Foreclosures
With the crisis beginning to cripple the economy, the state Legislature passed a bill that gave the governor the authority to temporarily stop homeowners from being evicted or having their home foreclosed upon.
Murphy acted on the same day, signing the measure into law and issuing his order to prevent evictions and foreclosures during the crisis and for up to two months after it.
“No one, and I repeat no one, in New Jersey should fear being kicked out of their home in an emergency,” he said.
(Murphy announced March 28 the state was working with numerous banks to will give New Jersey homeowners struggling with financial problems caused by the outbreak a 90-day grace period on mortgage payments.)
MARCH 21
1,327 cases, 16 deaths
Stay at Home
This was Murphy’s most notable move to increase social distancing. After similar decisions in California, Illinois, and New York, Murphy ordered New Jerseyans to stay at home except for necessary travel, banned all social gatherings, and mandated non-essential businesses in the state must close until further notice.
Under the order, residents are still permitted to go out for things like exercise and to obtain food and medicine. And a number of businesses are exempted from closing.
“We have to change our behaviors," Murphy said. “We don’t want you out there. Period.”
(The governor later added a few businesses to the essential list, including gun shops after pushback from Second Amendment advocates. And the state also gave municipalities and counties the option to prohibit short-term rentals at houses and hotels — especially at the Shore.)
Invalidating Local Restrictions
On the same day, Murphy signed a separate order invalidating all the local restrictions that some municipalities had put in place in previous weeks to protect residents.
“We have got to run this state with one set of rules," the governor said.
MARCH 23
2,844 cases, 21 deaths
Suspending Elective Surgeries
With hospitals seeing a growing influx of patients — and a growing need for resources — Murphy suspended elective surgeries in New Jersey until further notice.
“It’s imperative that we work with our partners in health care to strategically preserve supplies and equipment for emergency purposes only," he said.
That includes all medical and dental procedures that can be delayed without risk to patients.
Family planning — such as abortions — are allowed to continue.
MARCH 25
4,402 cases, 62 deaths
Shutting Down Most Child Care Centers
Murphy faced criticism for allowing child care centers to stay open even after closing schools. He said the state needed places for health-care workers and first responders to have their kids watched.
His solution was ordering all child care centers to close if they are not solely watching the children of essential workers.
MARCH 28
11,124 cases, 140 deaths
Mandatory Reporting from Health-care Facilities
Officials have repeatedly said that hospitals are desperately trying to increase their capacity during the crisis, while also dealing with a shortage of medical supplies and equipment. Thus, Murphy ordered all of New Jersey’s hospitals and health-care facilities to begin reporting data on their capacity and supplies to the state.
APRIL 1
22,255 cases, 355 deaths
Protecting Health-care Workers
This order gave health-care workers protection from malpractice lawsuits amid the pandemic. It’s designed to encourage more doctors, nurses, and other professionals not already on the front lines to volunteer.
APRIL 2
25,590 cases, 537 total deaths
Confiscating Medical Supplies
With inventory still running low, Murphy gave the leader of the State Police the authority to commander medical supplies and equipment from private companies and institution that haven’t already given it to the state.
Murphy said he hoped the state would not to have to use that power. Officials said the state would repay companies for what is taken.
APRIL 3
29,895 cases, 646 deaths
Flags at Half-Staff
Because the death toll from the virus has risen so quickly, Murphy said he didn’t have the time to highlight each New Jerseyan who has been lost. So he ordered flags in the state to be lowered to half-staff indefinitely to honor the dead.
“Since families at this time can not even hold funerals for their lost loved ones, this is one way, a small way but I think an important way, they can make sure their loss is not forgotten," the governor said.
APRIL 4
34,124 cases, 846 deaths
Bringing Back Retirees
With the state desperately in need of extra hands to fight the outbreak, Murphy allowed public employees to return to work in the state without any implications related to pensions.
“We need to remove any roadblocks that can keep them from service,” he said.
APRIL 7
44,416 cases, 1,232 deaths
Extending School Election Deadlines
After postponing school board elections to May 12, Murphy said he needed to extend some deadlines to give local districts more time to make decisions regarding budgets and employees.
This order lengthens the amount of time local officials can certify a tax increase related to school districts and notify non-tenured teachers whether they will be employed the following school year.
Student Testing
Under his second order that day, New Jersey teachers will not have standardized test results factored into their performance reviews this year because that testing was canceled for students.
Closing State and County Parks
The third order of that day courted controversy. Murphy said all state parks and forests, as well as county parks, must be closed.
“We have seen far too many instances where people have gathered in groups in parks erroneously thinking since they are outside social distancing doesn’t matter," the governor said. “Nothing can be further than the truth.”
Republican state lawmakers urged him to rethink the move. But Murphy said he’s sticking to it.
Extending the Public Health Emergency
In the forth order that day, Murphy added another 30 days to the public-health emergency he declared March 9 because it was was set to expire.
Holmdel Park in Holmdel Township is closed due the the coronavirus pandemic.Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media
APRIL 8
47,437 cases, 1,504 deaths
Postponing the June Primary
Another day, another slate of orders. In the first, Murphy postponed New Jersey’s primary elections — including races for the major-party nominations for president, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House — from June 2 to July 7.
The governor said he wanted to avoid the controversy that happened in Wisconsin, when primaries moved forward the day before despite the pandemic.
“I don’t want a Wisconsin, where I saw folks had to pick between exercising their right to vote and protecting their personal health," Murphy said.
Changing Weight Limits for Trucks
In the second order that day, Murphy increased the weight limits on trucks in the state from 40 to 46 tons to allow for larger deliveries of food and other supplies.
Halting Non-Essential Construction Work/Placing New Restrictions on Stores
Murphy’s third order of that day did two major things. First, he halted all non-essential construction in the state. Second, he is now requiring all employees and shoppers at businesses that can remain open to wear face coverings and limiting the number of customers allowed inside stores to half their capacity.
APRIL 9
51,027 cases, 1,700 deaths
Insurance Grace Period
By this point, the widespread closings had led to countless lost business revenue and a record of more than 500,000 New Jerseyans seeking unemployment.
With many residents struggling to cover bills, Murphy granted a grace period of 60 days for people who are unable to pay health or dental insurance premiums because of the crisis and 90 days for those who can’t pay home, auto, renters, or life insurance.
“No New Jerseyan should lose their insurance during this emergency," he said.
APRIL 10
54,588 cases, 1,932 deaths
Releasing Some Prisoners
Murphy allowed for the temporary release of some elderly or sick state prison inmates in New Jersey to protect them — and others — from the outbreak.
Under the order, prisoners older than 60, those with high-risk medical conditions, anyone finishing their sentences within three months and anyone recently considered for parole would be eligible. No one convicted of murder, sexual assault, or other serious crimes is eligible. The eligible inmates will be confined at home and then undergo a review process.
“The needs of public safety and public health have to be balanced,” Murphy said.
APRIL 11
58,151 cases, 2,183 deaths
NJ Transit Restrictions/Masks for Takeout Food
Taking further steps to increase social distancing, Murphy limited NJ Transit’s bus and rail service to 50% capacity and required employees and riders to wear face coverings until further notice. He also is requiring customers entering restaurants and bars for takeout food to wear face coverings.
“Remembering to bring your face covering to the supermarket, or now to pickup your takeout order, may be a hassle," Murphy said. “But you know what would be really inconvenient? If you ended up in the hospital with COVID-19, or you inadvertently infected a family member."
A day later, CNN’s Jake Tapper noted in an interview with Murphy that his orders for schools to close and residents to stay home came after similar moves in other states. He asked Murphy if New Jersey should have acted sooner.
“We acted about as soon as any American state, along with Ohio, California, Washington, New York, we were among the first, and as I sit here today, the tightest,” Murphy told Tapper on Sunday morning. “But we will do a post-mortem. Please God, I hope we do a national post-mortem that’s not partisan. ... We’re gonna need to do the same in our state. The woulda, shoulda, coulda deserves an important focus.”
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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.
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