TRENTON, NJ – Throughout the 2020-21 COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Phil Murphy told residents on a daily basis, that he would follow the science when it comes to lockdowns and mandates issued by his office.
The governor often bragged about how much he was doing during the pandemic, more than most states in America. In the end, he had little to show for his overly aggressive and obsessively cautious policies during the pandemic.
New Jersey was among the highest states in the U.S. per capita when it came to COVID-19 deaths and cases.
Now, Murphy is finally backing down on the remnants of his two-year-long COVID-19 lockdown.
A day after some unwarranted COVID testing rules for teachers and school workers were rescinded, and following a CDC report relaxing virus recommendations, a New Jersey senator is calling on Governor Murphy to do more.
“Monday’s announcement was a start. Now it is time to lift outdated restrictions that could have been eliminated months ago,” said Mike Testa (R-1). “The CDC and the science support easing these directives that provide little to no benefit, and residents are frustrated by confusing, inconsistent guidelines.”
Changes announced by the CDC on August 11 reflect a more moderate COVID posture, and the author of the guidelines said: “The current conditions of this pandemic are very different from those of the last two years.”
“CDC’s COVID-19 prevention recommendations no longer differentiate based on a person’s vaccination status because breakthrough infections occur, though they are generally mild, and persons who have had COVID-19 but are not vaccinated have some degree of protection against severe illness from their previous infection,” the CDC report states.
“Governor Murphy should embrace the new reality and do away with all remaining rules that are needless and unsubstantiated by medical science,” said Testa. “Continued mandates on healthcare workers, corrections officers and others aren’t supported by the latest science. New Jersey should follow the lead of other states and the CDC and stay up to date.”
The CDC’s changes include removing recommendations that residents self-quarantine after contact with an individual with COVID.