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New Jersey reinstates public health emergency
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy reinstated a public health emergency as the state tries to beat back a wave of COVID-19 infections propelled by the highly-infectious Omicron variant. Murphy said the new order wouldn't change people's everyday lives but leaves a school and daycare mask mandate in place.
TRENTON - New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy delivered his fourth state of the state address, saying he would declare a public health emergency again in light of COVID-19's omicron variant.
Murphy spoke remotely in a prerecorded speech for the second time for the annual address.
He said the new order wouldn't change people's everyday lives but leaves a school and daycare mask mandate in place.
The public health emergency declaration comes just as some of the governor’s powers expired as part of a law he signed in June, when the high vaccination rate and declining case counts had officials optimistic the virus could be behind the state.
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