N.J.’s Murphy Says Social Distance Working, Masks No Substitute

(Bloomberg) -- New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said social distancing is working, even as cases of the new coronavirus neared 30,000 in the state with the second-highest rate of infection.

Recent opinions that masks or bandanas should be worn in public are fine, but that “is not in any way a replacement,” Murphy said Friday at a press briefing. “Don’t assume that that makes you Superman or Superwoman and you can ignore the social distancing that we’re pounding the table on.”

Cases have more than tripled in a week in New Jersey, while deaths have surged sixfold. Still, the Northeast is faring better than other parts of the country that were slow to adopt social distancing and are now seeing spiking numbers, he said.

“We will lose more, sadly, as a result of this pandemic,” Murphy said. He ordered U.S. flags lowered statewide “for as long as this emergency remains in effect” to honor the dead. He was doing so in part, he said, to help ease the grief of mourners blocked from funerals because of social-distancing rules.

One week ago, on March 27, New Jersey had 8,825 cases and 108 reported deaths. As of today, the state has lost 646 people to Covid-19. New Jerseyans have been under a stay-at-home order since March 21, will all schools and nonessential businesses closed.

The state now has 29,895 cases, and a higher percentage of positive tests than New York because it is administering them only to symptomatic residents. The state has stepped up testing in recent weeks, with 42 sites, but has a backlog in getting results.

Murphy has plans to open three pop-up hospitals, in Secaucus, Edison and Atlantic City, that will have 1,000 beds. Secaucus is slated to begin accepting patients next week.

The governor has suspended elective surgeries and authorized state officials to commandeer medical equipment around the state. Murphy said that he spoke Thursday night with Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease official, and had a “very productive conversation this morning with Kellyanne Conway,” senior adviser to President Donald Trump.

“Whether or not we’re getting what we need is a separate matter,” he said.

Murphy said state officials were “going around the world,” looking in particular in Germany, Taiwan and China, for personal protective equipment and ventilators. The state had “good success” with supplies from the national stockpile, he said, but still had to turn to private suppliers.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.