Local News

Coronavirus Update: More Than 1,000 People Have Died In New Jersey

April 6, 2020 / 3:41 PM EDT / CBS New York

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NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - Gov. Phil Murphy wore a face covering when he arrived at his daily coronavirus briefing Monday. He said he and his team will do that every time they're around other people, or coming and going from news conferences.

Murphy updated the number of coronavirus cases in the Garden State:

41,090 cases (+3,663)
1,003 deaths (+86)

Murphy said data shows a decline in the growth rate of new cases from 24% day-over-day on March 30th to roughly 12% today.

"This mean that our efforts to flatten the curve are starting - and I say starting - to pay off," Murphy said. "The overall curve we fit into the data is beginning - and I say beginning, and I use that word again cautiously - beginning to flatten. Our job now is to keep flattening it, to the point where our day-over-day increase is not just 12% but is zero."

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

"If we keep our current practices, we can get through the peak with the hospital beds that we are preparing - the new wings, the reinstated buildings, the field medical stations. It will be tough and it will be stressful, but our health system can get through this intact. However, if we relax our social distancing and we put ourselves on the higher curve, we will overwhelm the system to the point that all of our contingency plans, and then some, will need to go into effect. Our health care system will be overrun with a surge four times what it could be. That is a nightmare scenario on a good day, but in a sustained pandemic such as this, it would be literally disastrous."

Murphy signed an executive order allowing retired public service workers to return to the workforce without impacting their pensions.

WATCH: Gov. Phil Murphy Gives Coronavirus Update

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"Right now we need all the experienced help we can get. Whether it be retired law enforcement officers returning to duty or nurses who can return to University Hospital, or folks who can help staff the Labor Department's unemployment insurance phone lines, and we need to remove any roadblocks," Murphy said.

Among the dead is Jersey City Councilman Michael Yun.

"He was a respected leader not just in Jersey City, but in Hudson County. A good man. A great professional. Terrific husband, father, grandfather. We stand with Jersey City and Hudson County in mourning his loss. We send our deepest prayers and thoughts to his family. An outstanding public servant and a really, really good guy," Murphy said.

Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the Yun family and all of Jersey City on the passing of Jersey City...
Posted by Hudson County Prosecutor's Office on Monday, April 6, 2020

"We are beyond saddened by the passing of Councilman Michael Yun. He was a family man, a great businessman, and a tireless advocate for Jersey City throughout his nearly 3 decades of public service. More than that though, he was a great husband, father, and grandfather as he never missed a chance to share how proud he was of his family. This is devastating for all of us here, as Michael was part of our Jersey City family. We will miss him and we will continue to aggressively fight against this pandemic, now in his honor," said Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop.