TOMS RIVER, NJ – In March and April, New York and New Jersey had an outbreak of COVID-19 that killed more people than most countries in the world. Now, as the virus subsides in those states and spikes are being seen elsewhere, such as Texas and Florida, New Jersey Congressman Andy Kim is calling for a national federalized policy for COVID-19 that would remove the rights and freedoms of the states and mandate a national response policy.
Kim used the discrepancies between nearby states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania where the COVID-19 response by those governors varies more than any science can explain.
For instance, why is it safe to eat inside a restaurant in Pennsylvania, but if you walk across a bridge over the Delaware River, dining inside is considered so dangerous, that the government is fining businesses allowing patrons in their buildings. Moreso, as you travel further away from the northeast, where most COVID-19 deaths have occurred, health standards are more relaxed and that, Kim says, is a huge problem for New Jersey.
“This is why we need a national strategy to end this pandemic. People don’t just stay in their hometowns,” Congressman Kim said. “We have neighbors who work across the river in Philly or spend time with family in New York. We have people in our community that split their time in Florida or Arizona. When we see spikes elsewhere, it’s a threat right here in New Jersey.”
If you read between the lines, Kim sounds as if he wants to take Governor Phil Murphy’s draconian COVID-19 doctrine and make it the national law, however New Jersey still leads all of America in COVID-19 deaths per capita with 178 deaths per 100,000 people. In Texas, the rate is 18 per 100,000 people and Florida is 27 per 100,000 people. New Jersey’s model for dealing with COVID-19 isn’t exactly the success story Kim and fellow Democrat Murphy claim.