New Jersey Schools to Remain Closed Through at Least May 15

(Bloomberg) -- New Jersey schools will remain closed thorugh at least May 15, Governor Phil Murphy said.

The risk is too great right now to reopen, Murphy said Thursday at a press briefing.

Murphy also reported a third straight day of more than 300 deaths from the new coronavirus.

Fatalities from Covid-19 now total 3,518, more than the number of New Jersey residents who died in World War I, Murphy said. At the start of April, the toll was 355.

Even as cases, hospitalizations and deaths have climbed, the virus’ spread has shown signs of slowing for more than a week. In most of the 21 counties, positive results are doubling in seven days or more, when they had been doubling every three days.

Murphy, though, has warned that New Jerseyans must continue social distancing, and has said a scarcity of test kits will hamper regional governors’ plans to reopen the economy.

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