Gov. Phil Murphy says that New Jersey is on the verge of a much wider reopening, after much of the state was shut down to slow the spread of COVID-19.

It has been about a month since the governor began scaling back on some of his executive orders that shuttered the state’s economy. Murphy said that residents should expect a “whole lot of guidance” over the next week as he reopens the state further.

Murphy also explained why he has unwilling to give out specific dates on when things will reopen.

“The last thing we want to do – we were having a discussion about this earlier – is give a date and then pull back on that date…or give you a number on capacity and then pull back,” Murphy said Thursday. “I know you’re frustrated, folks, and I don’t blame you. But part of the reason is we want to go down this one-way street once and we want to get it as right as we possibly can.”

The governor stated that on Friday he will start to explain where New Jersey will be heading. This could include reopening salons and outdoor dining.

Phase 2 of the state’s reopening plan includes expanded retail, child care and “limited personal care.” Murphy has been reluctant to reopen indoor businesses like gyms.

The governor says that he and state health officials will watch “like a hawk” a slight spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations that appears to be centered in northern New Jersey.

 

The state Labor Department also reported Thursday that 34,410 more people filed for unemployment. But this increase is the smallest it has been since mid-March.

Murphy said that as of March 23, 911,000 of almost 1.2 million unemployed New Jersey residents were receiving benefits. The other 206,000 were not.