Gov. Phil Murphy urged those who attended a Middletown party to contact their local health department.

The house party attended by a group of teenagers is linked to a coronavirus cluster in the town. About 20 people between the ages of 15-19 have since tested positive.

RELATED: Officials: House party linked to COVID-19 cluster in Middletown 

 

 

The state's Community Contact Tracing Corps is at the center of the effort to ensure that incidents, like the Middletown party, don't progress in larger numbers of coronavirus cases. Murphy says everyone should fully cooperate with contact tracers, and be honest with them.

Murphy also used his presser to thank the Federal Transit Administration for providing face coverings to New Jersey Transit.

The governor expressed his frustration with Sen. Mitch McConnel and the Senate's inability to put a relief bill with significant assistance to states.

"This is a matter of survival," Murphy says.

The statewide total number of coronavirus cases in New Jersey now stands at 178,345, after Gov. Phil Murphy just announced 488 new cases. The governor also announced 36 additional deaths, bringing the statewide death toll to 13,845.

For more on today's briefing, click here.