What to Know
- Gov. Phil Murphy will close all New Jersey schools as the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey jumped to 98 on Sunday.
- A second New Jersey resident's death from the coronaviruswas was also reported Saturday, officials said. The woman was a resident of Monmouth County, Murphy tweeted.
- Murphy also says the state is preparing for closing schools statewide, though he stopped short of taking that step.
Gov. Phil Murphy will close all New Jersey schools as the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey jumped to 98 on Sunday. Murphy announced he planned on closing schools during a phone briefing Sunday afternoon. He also said he would reveal more details regarding timing on Monday.
A second New Jersey resident's death from the coronaviruswas was also reported Saturday, officials said. The woman was a resident of Monmouth County, Murphy tweeted.
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Some of the new cases since Friday are in Burlington, Ocean and Mercer counties. On Sunday, Burlington County officials said a 43-year-old man from Moorestown and a 63-year-old woman from Eastampton both tested positive for COVID-19.
The woman's case was associated with travel while officials continue to investigate how the Moorestown man contracted it.
"We are taking every appropriate step to reduce the spread of coronavirus, limit the harm and care for the sick," Murphy said.
Prior to Sunday, Murphy had already said that New Jersey was preparing for closing schools statewide. He said it was a matter of when, not if, they close. Many of New Jersey's school districts have already closed.
Burlington County in south-central New Jersey decided on Friday evening to close all schools, effective immediately.
Pennsauken School District in Camden County also announced it was shutting down. Gloucester Township School District said Saturday it was shutting down as well.
New Jersey health officials also stopped visits to long-term care facilities with the exception of end of life hospice visits.
There are also 80 people that were being tested Friday at New Jersey labs, health officials said.
Murphy also announced that new equipment, including surgical masks and respirators, are expected to arrive from the federal government soon.
For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
The vast majority of people recover. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.
