By Bob Towey
With the American death toll from COVID-19 climbing past 100 on Tuesday, local communities will begin experiencing stricter measures to mitigate against the virus.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy issued warnings on March 16 against traveling between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., with most retail, entertainment, and recreational businesses facing mandatory closures within those hours. The governor also activated the National Guard to assist with mobilizing resources in the coronavirus containment effort.
“We want everybody to be home and not out,” Murphy said in a video released Monday. “Businesses which play a direct role in our response efforts or are necessary for the public welfare…may open after 8 p.m.”
New Jersey will allow supermarkets, pharmacies, medical offices, and gas stations to operate beyond the state’s recommended curfew.
Officials across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are encouraging residents to practice social distancing and avoid crowded locations. The three states are closing schools, restaurants, bars, gyms, and movie theaters, and banning all gatherings of over 50 people.
New York City may take measures a step further, with Mayor Bill de Blasio saying, “all New Yorkers should be prepared right now for the possibility of a shelter-in-place order” in a press conference. The restriction may begin before the end of the week and would prevent people from leaving their homes except for under “limited circumstances” described by the order.
As more Americans face financial pressures stemming from the inability to work during the coronavirus outbreak, the federal government is also looking to start making cash payments to affected individuals. President Donald Trump will support an $850 billion stimulus package to assist people and businesses struggling from the unexpected economic downturn.
De Blasio also said he plans on adding about 8,200 hospital beds to accommodate the surge in coronavirus cases on top of people in need of everyday medical care. COVID-19 cases in New York City exceeded 800 on March 17.
The United States is also facing a shortage of ventilators: estimates suggest the country has a stockpile of around 200,000 machines, but the Society of Critical Care Medicine anticipates 960,000 American coronavirus patients will need ventilator treatment. The Trump administration is encouraging state leaders to acquire ventilators independently if they can buy and install them faster than the government can satisfy demand.
As of Tuesday, New Jersey had 267 coronavirus cases with over 1,500 people across New York state testing positive for the virus. Connecticut currently lists 68 COVID-19 cases. There are over 6,400 confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States according to the Johns Hopkins Center for Science Systems and Engineering.
“I urge everyone to take this seriously,” Murphy said in a tweet. “We need everyone to STAY HOME.”
