Gov. Murphy Extends NJ's Coronavirus Public Health Emergency

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy extended the coronavirus outbreak's public health emergency for another 30 days, just as New Jersey is preparing to reopen more significant parts of its economy.

Murphy announced the extension as New Jersey's numbers also have tapered off a bit in recent weeks, and the transmission rate has dipped to its lowest level in a month (see daily case totals below).

The update comes as the number of cases continues to rise in New Jersey. Read more: NJ Coronavirus, School Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Murphy did not cite any specific reasons for continuing the public health emergency, saying the extension gives the state the "authority to remain vigilant and prepared to act should there be a new outbreak."

That also 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.

But Murphy is continuing to play it cautious even as he's prepared to reopen gyms and indoor amusements on Tuesday. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Gyms, Indoor Amusements Can Reopen Amid Coronavirus Crisis

Murphy, speaking during a Wednesday news conference, said he also hopes to reopen indoor dining and movie theaters by Sept. 14. Read more: Gov. Murphy Hopes To Open NJ Indoor Dining, Movie Theaters Soon

And many schools are also supposed to start in-person instruction this week, though many are also starting the year with remote learning. Read more: NJ Schools With Remote Instruction To Grow To 180: Here's Where

Murphy also addressed child care programs amid the coronavirus during a Friday news conference:

Murphy extended the public health emergency that was first declared on March 9 through the end of September.

“In New Jersey, we have made significant progress in the fight against COVID-19, but this fight is still not over,” said Murphy. “Extending the public health emergency will provide us access to all available resources to continue saving lives and mitigating the spread of this virus.”

Murphy extended the emergency just as New Jersey is showing that it's both progressing and lagging in the various indicators that say whether the coronavirus continues to spread. Read more: Reports Show Where NJ Succeeds And Lags In Containing Coronavirus

This week, however, the Garden State had good news: New Jersey's percent positivity rate dipped to 1.52, half of what it was more than a month ago, and its rate of transmission is now down to 0.77. Both indicate that New Jersey's coronavirus outbreak is being contained.

Still, many New Jersey towns have had coronavirus spikes since the summer began and now rank high on the case and fatality lists. Here are the latest New Jersey town-by-town numbers, ranked. Read more: Latest Town-By-Town NJ Coronavirus Cases, Deaths, Spikes Ranked

Here is a look at new coronavirus cases by day:

• August 28: 372
• August 27: 374
• August 26: 288
• August 25: 346
• August 24: 225
• August 23: 288
• August 22: 427
• August 21: 313
• August 20: 302
• August 19: 399
• August 18: 400
• August 17: 316
• August 16: 329
• August 15: 464
• August 14: 585
• August 13: 699
• August 12: 484
• August 11: 498
• August 10: 258
• August 9: 378
• August 8: 379
• August 7: 384
• August 6: 411
• August 5: 378
• August 4: 416
• August 3: 264
• August 2: 331
• August 1: 393
• July 31: 699
• July 30: 261
• July 29: 489
• July 28: 565
• July 27: 446
• July 26: 512
• July 25: 547
• July 24: 488
• July 23: 344
• July 22: 390
• July 21: 424
• July 20: 177
• July 19: 144
• July 18: 309
• July 17: 202
• July 16: 254
• July 15: 396
• July 14: 423
• July 13: 231
• July 12: 349
• July 11: 438
• July 10: 367
• July 9: 354
• July 8: 335
• July 7: 310
• July 6: 216
• July 5: 398
• July 4: 303
• July 3: 386
• July 2: 539
• July 1: 423
• June 30: 461
• June 29: 156
• June 28: 354
• June 27: 347
• June 26: 524
• June 25: 406
• June 24: 317
• June 23: 382
• June 22: 359
• June 21: 411
• June 20: 446
• June 19: 516
• June 18: 442
• June 17: 330
• June 16: 470
• June 15: 274
• June 14: 305
• June 13: 523
• June 12: 495
• June 11: 539
• June 10: 611
• June 9: 375
• June 8: 356
• June 7: 426
• June 6: 606
• June 5: 864
• June 4: 603
• June 3: 652
• June 2: 708
• June 1: 509
• May 31: 868
• May 30: 910
• May 29: 1,117
• May 28: 1,261
• May 27: 970
• May 26: 703
• May 25: 965
• May 24: 1,065
• May 23: 443
• May 22: 1,394
• May 21: 1,304
• May 20: 1,670
• May 19: 1,055
• May 18: 1,735
• May 17: 1,272
• May 16: 1,239
• May 15: 1,297
• May 14: 1,216
• May 13: 1,028
• May 12: 898
• May 11: 1,453
• May 10: 1,503
• May 9: 1,759
• May 8: 1,985
• May 7: 1,827
• May 6: 1,513
• May 5: 2,494
• May 4: 1,621
• May 3: 3,144
• May 2: 2,912
• May 1: 2,651
• April 30: 2,633
• April 29: 2,481
• April 28: 2,887
• April 27: 2,146
• April 26: 3,730
• April 25: 3,457
• April 24: 3,047
• April 23: 4,427
• April 22: 3,551
• April 21: 3,644
• April 20: 3,528
• April 19: 3,915
• April 18: 3,026
• April 17: 3,250
• April 16: 4,391
• April 15: 2,625
• April 14: 4,049
• April 13: 3,219
• April 12: 3,733
• April 11: 3,599
• April 10: 3,627
• April 9: 3,748
• April 8: 3,088
• April 7: 3,361
• April 6: 3,663
• April 5: 3,482
• April 4: 4,331
• April 3: 4,372
• April 2: 3,489
• April 1: 3,649
• March 31: 2,196
• March 30: 3,347
• March 29: 2,316
• March 28: 2,289
• March 27: 1,982
• March 26: 2,492
• March 25: 736
• March 24: 846
• March 23: 935
• March 22: 590
• March 21: 442
• March 20: 155
• March 19: 318
• March 18: 162
• March 17: 89
• March 16: 80
• March 15: 31
• March 14: 19
• March 13: 21
• March 12: 21
• March 11: 8
• March 10: 4
• March 9: 5
• March 8: 6
• March 7: 1
• March 6: 1
• March 5: 1
• March 4: 1

Here is a look at coronavirus deaths by day:

• August 28: 9
• August 27: 7
• August 26: 11
• August 25: 5
• August 24: 3
• August 23: 3
• August 22: 3
• August 21: 13
• August 20: 8
• August 19: 11
• August 18: 10
• August 17: 4
• August 16: 4
• August 15: 7
• August 14: 10
• August 13: 8
• August 12: 9
• August 11: 14
• August 10: 4
• August 9: 5
• August 8: 9
• August 7: 12
• August 6: 8
• August 5: 8
• August 4: 11
• August 3: 10
• August 2: 6
• August 1: 11
• July 31: 10
• July 30: 16
• July 29: 18
• July 28: 24
• July 27: 17
• July 26: 11
• July 25: 16
• July 24: 36
• July 23: 23
• July 22: 24
• July 21: 21
• July 20: 9
• July 19: 11
• July 18: 16
• July 17: 20
• July 16: 32
• July 15: 27
• July 14: 28
• July 13: 22
• July 12: 16
• July 11: 49
• July 10: 31
• July 9: 28
• July 8: 53
• July 7: 52
• July 6: 20
• July 5: 23
• July 4: 25
• July 3: 58
• July 2: 27
• July 1: 45
• June 30: 47
• June 29: 18
• June 28: 30
• June 27: 36
• June 26: 44
• June 25: 26
• June 24: 48
• June 23: 57
• June 22: 27
• June 21: 17
• June 20: 25
• June 19: 37
• June 18: 38
• June 17: 47
• June 16: 51
• June 15: 52
• June 14: 40
• June 13: 103
• June 12: 48
• June 11: 70
• June 10: 74
• June 9: 91
• June 8: 40
• June 7: 79
• June 6: 60
• June 5: 79
• June 4: 92
• June 3: 112
• June 2: 51
• June 1: 27
• May 31: 66
• May 30: 113
• May 29: 131
• May 28: 66
• May 27: 148
• May 26: 54
• May 25: 16
• May 24: 52
• May 23: 96
• May 22: 146
• May 21: 98
• May 20: 168
• May 19: 162
• May 18: 83
• May 17: 107
• May 16: 116
• May 15: 201
• May 14: 244
• May 13: 197
• May 12: 198
• May 11: 59
• May 10: 140
• May 9: 166
• May 8: 162
• May 7: 254
• May 6: 308
• May 5: 334
• May 4: 45
• May 3: 137
• May 2: 205
• May 1: 311
• April 30: 460
• April 29: 329
• April 28: 402
• April 27: 106
• April 26: 75
• April 25: 249
• April 24: 253
• April 23: 307
• April 22: 314
• April 21: 379
• April 20: 177
• April 19: 132
• April 18: 231
• April 17: 323
• April 16: 362
• April 15: 351
• April 14: 365
• April 13: 94
• April 12: 168
• April 11: 251
• April 10: 233
• April 9: 198
• April 8: 275
• April 7: 232
• April 6: 86
• April 5: 71
• April 4: 200
• April 3: 113
• April 2: 182
• April 1: 91
• March 31: 69
• March 30: 37
• March 29: 21
• March 28: 32
• March 27: 27
• March 26: 19
• March 25: 18
• March 24: 17
• March 23: 7
• March 22: 4
• March 21: 5
• March 20: 2
• March 19: 4
• March 18: 3
• March 17: 0
• March 16: 1
• March 15: 0
• March 14: 1
• March 13: 0
• March 12: 0
• March 11: 0
• March 10: 1

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