Coronavirus Latest: Daily New Jersey COVID-19 Deaths Surpass New York For Second Straight Day As Death Toll Tops 7,500
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS/AP) — New Jersey recorded more deaths from COVID-19 than New York for the second consecutive day Friday, and Gov. Phil Murphy said he will decide on the remainder of the school year next week. New Jersey reported 311 deaths on Friday, bringing the state's total to 7,538, Murphy said, while New York tallied 289.
The number of coronavirus cases jumped to 121,190, as another 2,651 new cases were reported.
Murphy is also bumping up the day he'll announce what the remainder of the school year will look like. He had set a deadline of May 15, but said at a news conference that he would announce it Monday.
During Friday's press conference, Murphy said this weekend will be a huge test for the state to see whether or not they stay on that trajectory of cases continuing to slow.
"We are not out of the woods yet. We all still have to use common sense," Murphy said.
Murphy also announced Friday that he is signing an executive order relaxing the in-person requirements for both working papers for minors as well as the solemnization of marriage licenses for couples.
He said wedding ceremonies will be allowed to be held using video-conferencing technology, with certain safeguards and municipalities are still permitted to allow in-person ceremonies, subject to social distancing, but will not be required to do so.
Meanwhile, New Jersey will begin to test all its inmates and Department of Corrections staff for coronavirus, Murphy's office said Friday.
The testing will be done along with Rutgers University's Correctional Healthcare and Accurate Diagnostics Lab and use the university's new saliva test. Current tests are done using invasive nose or throat swabs. The saliva test requires only spitting into a tube, Rutgers has said.
About 8,000 staff and 18,000 inmates will undergo testing, according to the governor. It's unclear when the testing will begin.
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks. Older adults and people with existing health problems are at higher risk of more severe illness or death.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
