New jersey logs record 27,000 covid-19 cases statewide on wednesday as phil murphy continues costa rican family vacation

New Jersey logs record 27,000 COVID-19 cases statewide on Wednesday as Phil Murphy continues Costa Rican family vacation

by
December 29, 2021

TRENTON, NJ – All is not well in New Jersey. If you don’t know somebody in New Jersey with the omicron strain of the COVID-19 virus, you probably don’t know too many people. The virus is equally affecting vaccinated, fully vaccinated, boosted and the unvaccinated equally. Symptoms include low fevers, headaches, sore throats, dry cough, congestion and fatigue.

Whether you’re fully vaccinated and boosted or completely unvaccinated, the symptoms are identical according to reports globally and firsthand accounts.

Related: What to expect when you’re expecting…omicron

On Tuesday, the state recorded a record-shattering 27,000 new positive cases of COVID-19 between anti-gen and PCR positive testing results. Keeping mind, that figure is several days behind due to reporting lag, the numbers could soon reach 50,000 per day.

And that’s just people who can actually find a way to be tested. Through the largest COVID-19 spike in the history of the pandemic, Governor Phil Murphy remains in Costa Rica, on vacation with his family and according to his staff, he has no intention to return early. His next COVID-19 briefing is scheduled for next Monday.

New Jersey’s medical capacity is nearing crisis mode as hundreds of people line up each day hoping to get tested to see if they have become infected with the virus.

Related: Here’s Why Phil Murphy’s Flawed COVID-19 Policy Is Kaput When He Returns From Costa Rica

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy might be sitting comfortably beside a pool or beach in Central America, but back home, things are not so comfortable. Murphy is spending a weeklong family vacation in Costa Rica and Monday morning on a call with President Joe Biden and other governors over the latest COVID-19 outbreak, Murphy all was well back in his home state.

“All’s well in New Jersey, I assume, Gov?” Biden asked Murphy during the briefing.

“Amen, Mr. President,” the governor responded.

But all is not well in New Jersey. Shortly after fleeing the latest outbreak in New Jersey for his Central American Christmas Vacation, Murphy’s administration settled a massive lawsuit with family members of hundreds of senior citizens killed in New Jersey’s two veterans’ nursing homes.

Back in New Jersey, far removed from the tropical beaches and elegant resorts in sunny Costa Rica, New Jerseyans are undergoing the worst wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Case counts are soaring to as many as 20,000 confirmed daily…and that doesn’t include thousands who are unable to test.

Related: From Costa Rica, Phil Murphy Tells Biden “All Is Well” In New Jersey As COVID-19 Cases Soar, Testing Overwhelmed

The silver lining in this is that omicron is an extremely mild form of COVID-19 that isn’t expected to affect healthy people negatively long term. Symptoms of omicron are similar to a common cold.

Overall, the U.S. reported 245,000 new cases today, meaning New Jersey’s cases account for 10% of the national total.

Phil Stilton
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Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

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