As a new effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy banned any public gathering with more than 250 people Thursday.
“Based on the guidance we have received from the commissioner of health, we are recommending cancellation of all public gatherings in New Jersey of more than 250 individuals – including concerts, sporting events and parades,” Murphy said in a statement.
“We are taking this step because It is our best chance to `flatten the curve’ and mitigate the chance of rapid spread so we can respond to this public health emergency in an even more focused manner,” Murphy said.
BREAKING: Today, I am recommending the cancellation of all public gatherings of 250+ people, including parades, concerts, and sporting events.
Social distancing works. This is our best chance to mitigate the chance of exposure & rapid spread of #COVID19.https://t.co/AKOFRSvkQF pic.twitter.com/uFVplz6L3y
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 12, 2020
“There´s still no need to panic”, he pointed out, “but we´ve got to be smart about getting out ahead of this.”
He also recommended following the hygiene measures that have been indicated through the media. “Washing hands routinely with soap, sneezing or coughing into your arms, staying away from anything if you don´t feel well, whether it´s work, school or any event”.
You can read: New Jersey´s first coronavirus patient is recovering
Among his recommendations he stressed especially to keep a distance from other people. “keep six feet of distance from anybody else. That´s a key distance that we want to underscore.”
The main purpose is according to his words “to aggressively mitigate the potential for exposure and further spread,” and he added, “we´re taking this step because we know social distancing works.”
The severe public health edict came shortly before Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered Broadway’s theaters shut tonight and banned public gatherings of more than 500 people across the state beginning Friday.