TRENTON, NJ – Upon returning from his Central American Christmas family vacation, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy advised residents to mask up, vaccinate and boost. If that doesn’t stop you from getting the highly contagious, yet mild omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, Murphy said the state’s hospitals are ready and waiting for you.
“This morning I convened the three hospital CEOs who comprise our regional coordinators. Our hospitals are ready for the surge. But, we must all do our part and remain vigilant: wear a mask, get vaccinated, get boosted, and get tested,” Murphy said.
The governor who has been out of the country for the latest surge in COVID-19 while on vacation in Costa Rica is scheduled to speak to the public on Monday as he resumes his weekly COVID-19 briefings.
Until then, the governor is advising New Jerseyeans to do their part to prevent the further spread of the virus, which is a pandemic among not just the unvaccinated, but also the fully vaccinated and boosted as the state climbed to nearly 30,000 cases ahead of the New Year’s Eve weekend.
That number is expected to continue climbing after the holiday celebrations.
Murphy did not discuss his plans to manage the out-of-control rise in COVID-19 cases or testing shortages. In many of the state’s testing centers, appointments are booked solid through the middle of January.
The state’s free at-home testing partnership with Vault is also at capacity, with many residents reporting the state has exceeded its daily limit of tests several days in a row.