TRENTON, NJ – After spending Thursday morning at a public event in Holmdel in support of humanitarian aid for Ukraine, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy tested positive later in the day for COVID-19.
The Governor has shielded himself from the virus for over two years but is one of many political figures in the Democrat party to contract the virus who have not had a prior strain previously.
Murphy is vaccinated and boosted but lacks the natural immunity antibodies many in New Jersey have after the winter omicron surge. Murphy has not had his second booster shot approved this week for use.
His wife Tammy tested positive in January after the family returned from a Central American Christmas vacation. Still, Murphy was able to come out of that winter scare without contracting the virus.
Murphy, 64, according to his communication director Mahen Gunaratna is “feeling well”.
The governor will quarantine for the next five days as he monitors his symptoms before his next COVID-19 test.
Over the past few weeks, Republicans in Trenton have called for a special investigation into Murphy’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis in New Jersey. Several Republicans said an investigation needs to focus on a March 2020 order by Murphy and Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli that forced nursing homes to take COVID-19 positive patients back into their facilities as little was know about the virus and its transmission.
It is estimated that thousands of elderly patients contracted the virus and died due to this order, but Murphy recently blamed the health care providers for not following his guidelines once those patients returned to their nursing homes.
The Department of Justice has an active investigation ongoing into the matter.