Volume 11/Issue 38 - Wednesday, June 17, 2020
  • Latest COVID-19 News: Gov. Murphy Touts Wind Port as Vital to Recovery, DOH to Review College Reopening Plans, Portal Bridge Replacement Moves Forward, DOH Finalizes Guidance for Organized Sports and more.
  • COVID-19 Resources

LATEST UPDATES

Murphy Touts Wind Port as Vital to Recovery: This week, Governor Murphy announced New Jersey will construct the nation’s first wind port in Lower Alloways Creek Township. The New Jersey Wind Port is expected to generate $500 million of new economic activity each year as the acting hub for the offshore wind supply chain. The Port will be the site of multiple factories that fabricate and assembly parts of wind turbines, as well as staging areas to help supply other offshore wind farms. As part of the NJBPU’s Energy Master Plan, New Jersey is committed to developing 7,500 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035.

“As we restart from the pandemic, I do not simply want to get back to where we were before COVID-19 in almost any respect,” said Murphy. “The emerging offshore wind industry is one that gives us tremendous growth potential.”

DOH to Review College Reopening Plans: Governor Murphy announced that state colleges and universities, which have been closed for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, can submit reopening plans to the state 14 days before the date schools want to reopen. These plans will be submitted to the State Secretary for Higher Education, and will be reviewed in coordination and consultation with the Department of Health.

Governor Murphy provided some guidelines that all colleges must follow upon reopening:

  • Requiring students and staff wear facing coverings indoors.
  • Strongly encouraging — though not mandating — students and staff wear face coverings outdoors.
  • Observing 6 feet of social distancing.
  • Sanitizing equipment and materials.
  • Allowing students and faculty with elevated health risks to learn and teach remotely.

A reopening strategy for New Jersey’s pre-K - 12th grade schools is expected next week.

Portal Bridge Replacement Moves Forward: Over the weekend, Governor Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy had dinner with President Trump at his Bedminster Golf Club. Late Friday night, shortly after the dinner, the President Tweeted he has “given the authorization to proceed” on replacing the 110-year old Portal Bridge, a long-sought and long-stalled New Jersey infrastructure project.

Trump’s public endorsement of the $1.8 billion project, is a critical signal to federal transportation officials to move ahead with funding.

DOH Finalizes Guidance for Organized Sports: The New Jersey Department of Health has placed sports into three-tiers of risk categories: low risk competitive activities like golf and tennis, medium-risk sports like soccer, baseball, softball and basketball, and high-risk sports like football.

On June 22, low-risk outdoor sports may resume competitions, and medium and high-risk sports may engage in non-contact drills and practicing. Governor Murphy anticipates that competition for medium-risk sports could begin on July 6, and full practices and competitions for high-risk sports on July 20.

Work from Home Continues in NJ: At Monday’s press briefing, Governor Murphy extended New Jersey’s work from home order, saying that all employees who can work from home, must remain working from home. 

“We know businesses are eager to have their employees back at their desks. But, these indoor environments pose the same problems as any other. For the time-being, all employees who can work from home must remain on work-from-home status,” said Murphy.

May Revenues Drop 13.5%: The New Jersey Department of the Treasury reported that revenue collections for the major taxes totaled $2.120 billion, down $331.2 million, or 13.5%, below last May as the economic impact of the global pandemic continues to take its toll on the State’s finances. Fiscal year-to-date, total collections of $26.864 billion are now down $2.498 billion, or 8.5% below the same period last year.

Latest NJ COVID-19 Statistics: The number positive coronavirus test results in New Jersey has increased to a total of 167,703. The number of statewide coronavirus-related deaths is currently 12,769. New Jersey has now lost more residents to COVID-19 than we did during World War II.

COVID-19 RESOURCES

All NJ residents with questions or concerns about COVID-19 and resources available to them should visit: www.covid19.nj.gov

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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