UPDATE: Gov. Phil Murphy said the primary will be held on July 7.
Murphy said the new date will allow in-person voting because hopefully the outbreak won’t be as severe by then. He also said it would give New Jersey more time to get ready for mail-in voting. Read more: Gov. Murphy: More NJ Restrictions As 275 More Die Of Coronavirus
NEW JERSEY – Expect the June 2 primary election to be delayed as New Jersey continues to deal with the effects of the coronavirus crisis, and lawmakers have a new date in mind.
Sources told Patch that New Jersey will likely postpone its June 2 primary election to July 7, expecting that the coronavirus outbreak will continue to have an impact into the summer.
The possible postponement comes as the number of cases continues to rise in New Jersey. Murphy will speak at a news conference at 1 p.m. Wednesday, and Patch will cover it live. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here’s What You Need To Know
Last week, Murphy said the Democratic Party’s decision to move the national presidential convention to Aug. 17 gave New Jersey “a lot more flexibility than I thought we had two days ago.”
“We’re going to make a decision on that very soon, but I’ll be stunned if we stay at June 2,” Murphy said.
The governor already has taken some steps to make sure that the coronavirus outbreak doesn’t impact elections that were supposed to be held in the spring, either postponing them or requiring a vote by mail. Read more: Governor Murphy Moves NJ School District Election Deadlines
The filing deadline for running for the primary elections was March 30, and many candidates are slated to run for local elections. Former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders are expected to square off in the Democratic presidential primary.
Murphy offered some insight into how long the coronavirus crisis may last in New Jersey just as he was providing an update to the outbreak’s toll on Monday: 3,663 new cases and 86 more deaths. The numbers marked the second day in a row that the numbers were much lower than the outbreak’s worst day on Saturday. Read more: Gov. Murphy: Coronavirus May ‘Spill Meaningfully Into The Summer’
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State health officials said they believe the virus is “community-spread” in New Jersey. “Community-spread indicates that the coronavirus is amongst us,” Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli announced. Read more: Coronavirus May Be ‘Community-Spread’ In NJMurphy issued a stay-at-home order, closing all non-essential business at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 21. Read more: Gov. Murphy Announces NJ ‘Stay-At-Home’ Order Due To CoronavirusOn Monday, March 16, Murphy announced that all schools would close on Tuesday, March 17. Read more: NJ Schools Will Close Due To Coronavirus Outbreak: Gov. MurphyHere are 10 resources for you and your family to utilize as you navigate through the outbreak: Unemployment, Tests, Food: 10 NJ Resources In Coronavirus CrisisMurphy issued an executive order on Thursday, March 19 to ensure voters can exercise their right to vote without risking their health and safety. Read more: Coronavirus Alters NJ Election Procedure, Moves Election DatesThe first person in New Jersey to die of the coronavirus was reported on Tuesday, March 10. Read more: First NJ Coronavirus Death, 4 New Cases: GovernorNew Jersey’s courts suspended all new jury trials until further notice, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner said on Thursday, March 12. Read more: Coronavirus Throws Monkey Wrench Into New Jersey Court SystemState Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner announced on Saturday, March 14 that municipal court sessions will be suspended.The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission said it’s also closing temporarily. Read more: New Jersey MVC Shuts Down Because Of CoronavirusA new report from ProPublica says New Jersey hospitals would be hard pressed to meet demand – even in a best-case scenario – if the coronavirus outbreak surges. Read more: NJ Hospitals Lack Beds For Coronavirus Surge: ReportFour members of the same New Jersey family died from the coronavirus, according to March 19 reports. Read more: 4 In Same Family, Including 3 In NJ, Die Of Coronavirus: ReportsThe deadline for Americans to file federal taxes was moved from April 15 to July 15, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin tweeted on Friday, March 20. Read more: Federal Tax Day Postponed To July 15 Amid Coronavirus OutbreakAfter two FEMA sites opened, officials said five more counties will be getting coronavirus testing sites. Read more: Coronavirus Drive-Through Testing Sites To Open In 5 NJ Counties
How It Spreads
The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person. Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others. That is why CDC recommends that these patients be isolated either in the hospital or at home (depending on how sick they are) until they are better and no longer pose a risk of infecting others.
There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19.