Coronavirus New Jersey: Gov. Phil Murphy To Allow Golf Courses, Parks To Reopen This Weekend

Cleve Bryan reports.

CHAIR J PAUL SAYS CONTINUE TODEPLOY FULL RANGE OF TOOLS TOSUPPORT THE ECONOMY.WE BEGIN THIS AN HOUR INNEW JERSEY, DATA POINTING INTHE RIGHT DIRECTION AS HAS LEDGOVERNOR MURPHY TO TAKE SOMESTEPS TOWARD RE-OPENING PLACESLIKE PARKS AS SOON AS THISWEEKENDED BUT AS CLEVE BRYANREPORTS, LEGISLATORS ON BOTHSIDES ARE PUSH TO GO TAKE ITFURTHER.I HAVEN'T DONE IN IN AWHILE BUT I'LL ALL ASK US ALLTO TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT OFVIOLENCE.ANNOUNCING 329 MORE DEATHSNEW JERSEY COVID-19 DEATH TOLL6,707 HAS NOW SURPASSED THESTATE'S CASUALTIES IN SEVERALWARS, NATIONAL DISASTERS ANDTERRORIST ATTACKS COMBINED.YET DATA INDICATES BETTER DAYSARE AHEAD, AS HOSPITALIZATIONSCONTINUE TO DECLINE FOR MORETHAN A WEEK.OUR MANTRA REMAINS, ANDMUST REMAIN, PUBLIC HEALTHCREATES ECONOMIC HEALTH.WITH THAT GOVERNOR MURPHYANNOUNCED THE FIRSTSIGNIFICANT RE-OPENING IN NEWJERSEY SINCE THE COVID-19CRISIS BEGAN.SIGNING EXECUTIVE ORDER, TOREOPEN STATE PARKS, AND GOLFCOURSES STARTING THISSATURDAY.PLAYGROUNDS AND OTHERAMENITIES WILL REMAIN OFFLIMIT AS SOCIAL DISTANCINGREQUIREMENTS WILL NOT BEEASED.I'M HAPPY AT ONE TRAVEL WEARE ABLE TO TAKE THIS STEP.BUT WE LEN FORCE THIS.AND IF WOE DON'T LIKE WHAT WESEE, I HATE TO SAY THERE IS IRESERVE THE RIGHT TO REVERSETHE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT I'MSIGNING TODAY.WHILE PRAISING MOST OFHISSINGS TOSS CONTAINCOVID-19, STATE LEGISLATURESFROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLEARE ENCOURAGING MURPHY TO PICKUP THE PACE MAKING DECISIONSABOUT ALLOWING MORE BUSINESSESTO OPERATE.MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE SAFE KEEPTHE SOCIAL DISTANCING, FOLLOWALL OF THE RULES, BUT GIVE THEBUSINESSES AT LEAST THEOPPORTUNITY TO SEE IF THEY CANDO IT OR NOT.RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE NOT BEINGGIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, ANDTHERE ARE MALL BUSINESSESGOING AWAY.STARTING NOW PEOPLE WHO ARESELF-EMPLOYED OR INDEPENDENTCONTRACTORS NOT USUALLYELIGIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENTBENEFITS WILL STARTINGNOTIFIED OF FEDERAL PANDEMIC