Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday he’s deploying New Jersey’s National Guard to assist in the state’s effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Murphy said during a news conference in Trenton that the Guard will “assist in our efforts in anyway necessary.”

He said that may include help with testing, distributing food to kids during school closings, and possibly converting buildings for self-quarantining.

Brig. Gen. Jemal Beale, the head of the state’s National Guard, said their “most likely missions” will be helping with logistics, transportation, traffic control, security, and using engineers to help bring any damaged facilities back online.

“Wish us luck,” Beale said. “And please wash your hands on a regular basis. And also practice social distancing.”

The National Guard is a reserve military force that governors across the county commonly deploy during natural disasters and emergencies.

Murphy made the announcement as he outlined a number of new restrictions that will severely reshape life in New Jersey for the foreseeable future in the effort to mitigate the outbreak.

New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut announced they’re ordering all of their movie theaters, casinos, and gyms to close indefinitely, starting at at 8 p.m. Monday, and that restaurants will be allowed to offer only takeout and delivery after that time. No dining in will be allowed until further notice.

The governor also said he’s also ordering performing arts centers, night clubs, racetracks, and fitness centers and classes to close indefinitely, beginning at 8 p.m. Monday.

Murphy said all other non-essential retail and entertainment businesses must close from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. every day beginning Monday. They may remain open during daytime hours each day, as long as they keep their occupancy to 50 people and adhere to “social distancing” guidelines.

Supermarkets, grocery stores, pharmacies, medical offices, and gas stations may remain open at normal hours, the governor said.

Meanwhile, Murphy announced all of New Jersey’s public and private schools — pre-K through 12, as well as colleges — will be ordered closed starting Wednesday.

And he said the state is “strongly discouraging” any non-essential travel in New Jersey from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. each day.

“We have seen the enemy,” Murphy said. “We don’t want to be dragged by the enemy. We want to do everything we can to get out ahead of it.”

“I’m begging you: Trust us,” he added. “Believe. This is real. And if it turns out it isn’t, it’s on me.”

New Jersey has seen at least 178 coronavirus cases so far, including two deaths, officials said Monday — an increase of 80 cases compared to Sunday.

The virus — which causes the illness COVID-19 — has infected more than 179,000 people and killed more than 7,000 people across the globe, according to a running tally by the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.

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