NJ Extends COVID Public Health Emergency – But This Could Be It

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy has announced that the public health emergency initiated a year ago has again been extended another 30 days. But this could be the last 30 days, the governor said.

Murphy announced this weekend that he and his administration have begun working with Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Coughlin on legislation that will end the COVID-19 public health emergency in place since March 2020.

The legislation, Murphy said, would ensure that the administration has the necessary tools to manage the ongoing threat to public health, as well as recovery and vaccination efforts.

Murphy signed Executive Order No. 240, which extends that public health emergency for another 30-day period, ending in mid-June.

The emergency declaration means the state will continue to have the authority to order new shutdowns and take similar extraordinary acts if the virus resurges, as it has done in other states.

Under the Emergency Health Powers Act, a declared public health emergency expires after 30 days unless renewed. If legislation is finalized ahead of the renewal date, the public health emergency extended on Friday will be allowed to expire, Murphy said.

“After an extremely difficult year, we are seeing the results of our mitigation efforts and our successful vaccination program,” said Murphy. “In order to continue on the path to normalcy, we need all available resources to continue our progress in vaccinating New Jerseyans and finally beating back this pandemic.

Murphy signed the order and made his remarks as he said he was still not ready to lift the restrictions requiring masks to be worn in indoor public spaces, despite new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance that says the opposite.

Murphy did say on Friday that people can take off masks outdoors. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ 'Can Do Away' With Masks Outdoors If Vaccinated

The Murphy administration says it is working closely with Sweeney and Coughlin on legislation that will allow the public health emergency to expire, but ensures that "we have the necessary tools and flexibility to continue the fight against the pandemic, including the vaccination efforts that are our highest priority.

"By working together, we are confident that we can move to the next phase of our recovery effort," he said.

Sweeney said the governor's actions mark "real progress as we work to emerge from the worst public health crisis of our lifetime."

“It’s the beginning of the end of a crisis that has tragically claimed the lives of an unimaginable number of New Jerseyans and impacted the lives and livelihoods of nearly everyone," he said. "The worst is behind us, and now is the time to move forward to restore the quality of life for the people of New Jersey.

For the full text of Executive Order No. 240, click here.