Wear A Mask! 4 Things NJ Wants You To Do In Coronavirus Outbreak

NEW JERSEY – In case you're wondering, or you were unsure of what he said, this is what New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy wants you to do:

Wear a mask or face covering.

That could be the most urgent thing that Murphy wants you to do to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, which has now infected 34,124 New Jerseyans and killed 846 of them. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

But Murphy actually has a list of four urgent tasks he wants people to follow if we're going to "flatten the curve" and prevent this incurable disease from spiraling out of control in New Jersey, he said.

Here they are:

Wear a mask

Murphy noted that wearing a mask or face covering is the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one "we'll all take seriously."

Other states, such as Pennsylvania, have made the point more declaratively. But Murphy made the point, too. Here is how he said it:

"That's advice we're not only giving via the CDC, but we'll take the advice ourselves."

During a Saturday press conference, Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli also repeated the CDC's recommendation that people should wear masks. She said the measure is not fail-safe, but she said people who are asymptomatic may be carrying the virus.

"If you wear a mask, you're protecting others," Persichilli said. "If others are wearing them, they are protecting you."

Murphy suggested that he won't be wearing one during his daily press conferences because it would be difficult to communicate that way.

He and health officials, however, advised against using surgical masks because those are critical supplies that front-line workers need.

Volunteer or sign up to help

Nine hospitals were on divert status on Saturday, meaning they had to shift care for some patients. Six were on "full-divert."

Why? Coronavirus is obviously causing hospitals to be overcrowded. But Persichilli said the main problem is staffing. Doctors and nurses are getting sick, or they've become too overwhelmed.

Murphy, as a result, has asked for doctors, nurses, EMTs and medical students and members of the Armed Forces Medical Corps to volunteer. Those who can can do so by clicking here.

"We need the help of qualified health, mental health, and related professionals to supplement our health care capacity on a temporary basis," the sign-up form says.

Give blood

Murphy issued an administrative order this week that permits blood donation drives to continue in order to meet the critical medical needs of New Jersey residents.

In order to operate, blood drives must undertake appropriate mitigation efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including incorporating social distancing where practicable.

“Blood donation drives are a vital and essential activity that our health care systems rely on to complete surgeries, treatments, and critical care,” said Murphy. “The COVID-19 outbreak threatens to disrupt our blood supply and we must continue these operations to ensure that we can meet the critical medical needs of all New Jersey residents.”

Click here: Red Cross Blood Donations | Schedule To Give Blood‎

“I know so many of us feel helpless in the face of this particular crisis, so there is something you can do to help those in need. I urge you to contact Bergen Regional Community Blood Center, New Jersey Blood Services, or the American Red Cross and make an appointment to give,” said Persichilli. “There are locations throughout the state with flexible hours to accommodate our communities.

Stay home, and away from the Shore

Murphy has made the plea – and even issued an order – for people to stay at home during the crisis. But he went a step further this week, asking people stay away from the Jersey Shore and not move into their vacation rentals or summer homes.

Murphy said the Shore area does not have the capacity to handle coronavirus cases that North Jersey has.

Toward that end, Murphy and Superintendent of the State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan on Saturday announced an administrative order allowing municipalities and counties to impose additional restrictions on short-term rentals in response to COVID-19. Read more: NJ Further Restricts Short-Term Rentals During Coronavirus

This administrative order gives municipalities and counties the ability to impose additional restrictions on the ability of hotels, motels, guest houses or private residences to accept new transient guests or seasonal tenants after 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 5.

“We have heard too many stories, especially from our shore communities, of people trying to relocate, for the time being, into their towns from impacted areas,” said Murphy. “Many of our shore communities lack the health care infrastructure to accommodate an influx of part-time residents. New Jerseyans should stay at their primary place of residence for the duration of this emergency.”

Murphy also is urging worship at home, with no gatherings; Palm Sunday, Passover, Easter and Ramadan all fall within the coming days. Read more: NJ Worshipers Urged To Honor Holy Week At Home Amid Coronavirus