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TRENTON, N.J. (WCBS 880) — Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday confirmed the number of coronavirus cases in New jersey had surpassed 51,000 as deaths climbed to 1,700.

The state received 3,748 new positive cases overnight.

“This number is the worst of all to report to you. It does not ever get any easier on us,” Murphy wrote on Twitter. “These aren’t numbers, these are people. They are our fellow New Jerseyans.”

Of those sickened, 7,363 are hospitalized and 1,523 are in intensive care units. He added that 1,551 individuals are on ventilators.

Sadly, we lost an additional 198 New Jerseyans yesterday, bringing our statewide total of losses to 1,700.



This number is the worst of all to report to you. It does not ever get any easier on us.



This aren’t numbers, these are people. They are our fellow New Jerseyans. pic.twitter.com/3LcVlJfpMV — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 9, 2020

While 471 New Jersey residents were discharged and have returned home, he stressed that the pandemic is far from over.

Murphy also announced he would be signing an executive order extending the grace period for residents unable to pay their insurance premiums because of financial hardship caused by the virus.

"No New Jerseyan should lose their insurance during this emergency," he said on social media.

BREAKING: I’m signing an Executive Order extending the grace period for residents who may be unable to pay their insurance premiums because of the financial hardship caused by #COVID19.



No New Jerseyan should lose their insurance during this emergency. — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 9, 2020

Meanwhile, he said 214,000 more residents filed for unemployment insurance benefits in the last week and said the state is working to make it easier for people to access benefits.

“Nobody will be denied one penny of their unemployment benefits,” the governor said.

We learned this morning that nearly 214,000 more New Jerseyans filed for unemployment insurance benefits last week.



We’re working as hard as possible to make it easier for you to access your benefits.



REMEMBER: No one will be denied ONE PENNY of their unemployment benefits. — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 9, 2020

On Wednesday, the governor ordered all essential retail businesses to begin limiting the number of customers allowed in their stores to no more than 50% of their approved capacity.

He said customers and workers must wear face masks in stores.

“Customers and employees must wear face coverings," Murphy said. "Stores must also provide special shopping hours for high-risk individuals, erect physical barriers between customers and cashiers and baggers where practicable, regularly sanitize areas used by their employees and more."

He also said the New Jersey primary elections would move from Tuesday, June 2 to Tuesday, July 7.

"Our democracy cannot be a casualty of #COVID19," Murphy tweeted. "We want to ensure that every voter can vote without endangering their health or safety."

Murphy said in-person voting may happen, but delaying voting a month will allow the state to prepare for an all-vote-by-mail election.

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