© 2024 WBGO
Discover Jazz...Anywhere, Anytime, on Any Device.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

New Jersey Heads into Another Week of the Coronavirus Pandemic

Governor Phil Murphy
NJ Governor's Office

The number of coronavirus cases in New Jersey is now more than 37,000, and the number of people dead is over 900.

Governor Murphy notes that the coronavirus death toll has passed the number of New Jersey resident killed in the 9/11 terror attacks: “This pandemic is writing one of the greatest tragedies in the state’s history.”

He applauded those in the Garden State who have risen to the occasion to help, like Newton High School Science teacher Jim Hoffman.

“Jim is using both his personal 3D printer and the two at Newton High School to produce protective face shields for the doctors and nurses.”

But that won’t be enough.

“We continue to be short ventilators PPE, beds, healthcare workers.”

Murphy is continuing to ask retired nurses and doctors for help and the state is now looking at turning dorm rooms and hotels into temporary hospitals. Meanwhile, State Department of Labor Commissioner Robert Angelo says during the first week of the coronavirus outbreak, the number of people applying for unemployment benefits skyrocketed 1,600 percent.

“Imagine a stadium with 10,000 seats but there a million people waiting to get in. There are only so many who can get through the gates at one time.”

He says they have added staff, phone lines and are working weekends to try and speed up what’s been a delay in claims.