NEW JERSEY—Gov. Phil Murphy announced sweeping limitations on civil society he says will help flatten the curve, or slow the spread of the novel Coronavirus COVID-19, with about 100 cases now in the state.
“The time for us to take our strongest and most direct actions to date to slow the spread of coronavirus is now,” Murphy said in a video message posted on social media.
The new actions include:
• Closing all schools—public, private, parochial, from pre-K through grade 12, and all colleges and universities—from Wednesday, March 18 until such time as deemed by health officials to be safe for classes to resume.
• All non-essential and non-emergency travel is strongly discouraged between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. for the foreseeable future.
• All non-essential businesses must close after 8 p.m. During day time hours, businesses may remain open if they limit their occupancy to 50 people and adhere to social distancing guidelines.
• Businesses which play a direct role in response efforts, or are necessary for the public welfare—like supermarkets and grocery stores, medial offices, pharmacies, and gas stations—may remain open after 8 p.m.
• All bars and restaurants are closed for eat-in service effective 8 p.m. tonight, Monday, March 16. After 8 p.m., they may open for take out and delivery orders only.
• All movie theaters, gyms, casinos and race tracks must close at 8 p.m. tonight.
• All public events of 50 or more persons are cancelled effective 8 p.m. tonight.
“We do not take any of these steps lightly. We know that each comes with its own set of impacts on residents, families, communities and businesses. But at this moment our paramount concern must be to flatten the curve of new cases so we do not overload our health care system.
“We all must take seriously the need for social distancing that can help slow the spread of coronavirus.
“To all New Jersians, I wish you to be safe and to stay healthy. Let’s do this together,” said Murphy. “We will—assuming we do our part, each of the 9 million of us, including yours truly—assuming we do our part, we will get through this, and we will be stronger than ever before. Assuming we do our part.”
What is Social Distancing?
According to the C.D.C., the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person, between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet), through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs, C.D.C. says.
Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick, especially older adults, or those with heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease.
Changes mirror those imposed in nearby New York
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo imposed similar restrictions on civil society today, designed to slow infections and prevent area hospitals from being overwhelmed and therefore unable to provide care to those contracting COVID-19.
He urged the federal government to lead the effort, however, saying a state-by-state approach is causing unnecessary chaos, including the potential that people will travel across borders to attempt to procure goods and services.
“You need federal parameters to stop the national patchwork of density reduction closings,” Cuomo said.
He said the president must use the Army Corps of Engineers to build medical capacity.
Business wonder: What’s next?
Job cuts, lost income, prolonged closures—it’s enough to have owners of business small and large very worried.
“All small businesses across Bergen County and likely the rest of New Jersey have hit a cash flow wall and are in trouble,” Tenafly Chamber of Commerce President Christine Evron told Northern Valley Press.
The state has launched a new website for businesses to consult, cv.business.nj.gov.
“The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) has a portfolio of loan, financing, and technical assistance programs available to support small and medium-sized businesses. More information on existing products and programs can be found on the NJEDA website for small and midsize business and the services for those businesses,” according to the state website.