Gov. Phil Murphy has extended the public health emergency declaration stemming from the coronavirus outbreak for another month. He made the announcement Wednesday.

Murphy first signed the declaration in March and renewed it in April. The declaration allows the governor to invoke emergency powers, like ordering businesses to close. Murphy said he decided to extend the declaration because it automatically expires after 30 days and the underlying conditions making it necessary haven’t changed.

The governor also announced about 1,500 new positive cases putting the total at about 132,000 along with 308 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 8,549.

The statewide total number of coronavirus cases in New Jersey now stands at 131,890 cases, after Gov. Phil Murphy just announced 1,513 new cases. The governor also announced 308 additional deaths, bringing the statewide death toll to 8,549.

 

For more information on the daily briefing, click here.