After two years of pandemic restrictions, phil murphy tells new jersey to enjoy normalcy

TRENTON, NJ – It has been a rough two years for the world, America and New Jersey. More specifically, in New Jersey where Governor Phil Murphy enacted the harshest and stiffest pandemic restrictions upon the population than any other state, short of perhaps California and New York.

During the two-year pandemic emergency, which expired last Monday, Governor Murphy ruled with an iron fist, closing businesses, arresting and charging business owners who defied him, prolonged mask mandates, mandatory vaccinations for public workers and the list goes on.

The last two years in New Jersey have been insufferable. Many have chosen to just uproot their families and flee the state.

The pandemic policies by Democrat governors such as Murphy sparked what is being called the “Blue State Exodus“.

Residents are fleeing states like New York, California, and New Jersey and heading to red states including Florida, Texas, and South Carolina.

As Murphy lifts his heavy-handed grip on New Jersey, he’s telling those who stayed behind to “enjoy normalcy”.

In an interview with CBS, Murphy said, “Enjoy normalcy, celebrate, but do it responsibly…embrace that your kids won’t be wearing masks, that the weather is going to be better, we’ll be outside.”

Murphy held on to his pandemic fear peddling until the very end, long after most states loosened restrictions. It was only after a February conference with the National Governor’s Association when Murphy realized he was the odd man out in the country.

After the conference, he reluctantly accepted the defeat of his COVID-19 policy as the rest of America’s governors all agreed, the pandemic is over and the country is now moving into an endemic stage.

“There’s no playbook for this, we believe we know where it’s heading,” Murphy added. “I would just say to folks, keep in the back of your mind that this thing could take a turn and be prepared for that.”

And be prepared for the return of Murphy’s COVID-19 policy, which didn’t fare any better than the policy of red states who didn’t enforce draconian restrictions upon their residents.

Murphy said to get boosted and keep your masks and tests at home…just in case.

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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.

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