LATEST UPDATES
New Jersey’s Reopening Begins Today: Today, Governor Murphy signed an executive order allowing for the restart of non-essential construction, allowing non-essential retail to open for curbside pickup only and permitting drive-through and drive-in events under social distancing guidelines. For non-essential construction and non-essential retail, the executive order will be effective at 6:00 AM, Monday.
New Rules for construction sites include clear posting of safety protocols, preventing overcrowding, prohibiting non-essential visitors, staggering work hours and breaks and ensuring proper sanitation.
Non-essential retail may open for curbside pickup only, and customers are not permitted inside retail stores.
Gathering of vehicles, such as drive-in movies or religious services are permitted as long as participants remain in cars and follow existing social distancing rules.
Murphy’s announcement comes one day after he announced plans for ramping up testing and contact tracing in New Jersey, which is critical to have in place when the state opens.
"Today we are taking the next steps down New Jersey's road back and each step that eases us down the road is being taken because public health, medical experts and the data tell us that it is now safe to do so,” Murphy said. “This is how we transition to a safe, smart and sustainable way of life."
April Revenues Down 60% as COVID-19 Impact Begins: The NJ Department of Treasury reported today that April revenue collections for major taxes totaled $2.345 billion, down an unprecedented $3.5 billion, or 59.7%,below last April as the impact of the global pandemic begins to take its toll on the state’s finances. Despite this decline, it’s important to note that the April revenue collections largely reflect March economic behavior due to the fact that major revenues report with a one-month lag. April’s collections may also reflect the impact of extending the filing and payment deadline for both the income tax and the corporate business tax from April 15 to July 15.
NJ Still Among Most Impacted States: New data shows that New Jersey hospitalization rates, rates of new confirmed positive cases, ventilator use rates are all trending downward and show signs of leveling off. However, when compared to other states, New Jersey still bears a significant burden from COVID-19. New Jersey still has the highest rate of new cases per 100k residents, the highest number of patients in hospitals per 100k residents and the highest number of new deaths per 100k residents as compared to New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, California and Texas.
“The success we’ve had flattening the curve gives us confidence that we’ll be able to announce the end of more restrictions in the days and weeks ahead,” said Governor Murphy.
“We are not out of the woods yet,” he said. “When compared to other states, we see that New Jersey still bears a significant burden from COVID-19. So keeping up with social distancing is essential as we move forward.”
NJ Hires Consulting Firm to Access Economic Impact: New Jersey is in the process of hiring consulting firm McKinsey & Company to assess the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic has had on the state’s public and private sectors. The board of the state Economic Development Authority approved the hiring this week and amended an existing contract with the firm. Under the agreement, McKinsey will be paid $2.47 million, and must examine the economic impact of the pandemic, provide support for the state’s recovery plan and help to update the governor’s 2018 economic development plan.
Latest NJ COVID-19 Statistics: The number positive coronavirus test results in New Jersey has increased to a total of 141,560. The number of statewide coronavirus-related deaths is currently 9,702.
COVID-19 RESOURCES
Mental Health Awareness Month: The New Jersey Department of Children and Families have announced that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. For anyone feeling stress, isolation or grief right now, please reach out for help. NJ Mental Health Cares: 1-866-202-4353 @CrisisTextLine text ‘NJ’ to 741741
All NJ residents with questions or concerns about COVID-19 and resources available to them should visit: www.covid19.nj.gov
For more information about NJ business assistance programs and application information, please visit: https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources
CARES Act: The programs and initiatives in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was just passed in Congress are intended to assist small business owners with whatever needs they have right now. For more information on the small business owner’s guide to the CARES Act, click here.
Jobs and Assistance in NJ: An online portal is available to provide information to impacted small business owners. The portal includes information on Executive Orders, regulations impacting small businesses and access to financial assistance from the US Small Business Administration (SBA).
Testing Sites: Click here to get updated information and locations of public testing sites.
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