TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) — Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday that the number of coronavirus deaths in New Jersey had risen to 3,840 as the number of cases neared 80,000.

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Holding a COVID-19 briefing. WATCH: https://t.co/zYDyd1Hn9q — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 17, 2020

Murphy said there were 3,840 deaths and 78,467 cases in the state.

That includes 323 new deaths and 3,250 new cases reported since Thursday.

With heavy hearts, we report the loss of another 323 New Jerseyans due to #COVID19 related complications.



Our statewide total of fatalities now sits at 3,840. This is now more than five times the number of New Jerseyans we lost on 9/11. — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 17, 2020

Murphy said 8,011 people in the state are hospitalized with COVID-19 and 1,961 are requiring critical or intensive care. He said 1,594 ventilators are in use.

The governor also said the New Jersey Office of Attorney General through the state Division of Consumer Affairs will begin issuing temporary emergency licenses to foreign-licensed physicians.

"We're now the FIRST state to begin fully tapping the tremendous wealth of international knowledge and experience to help us on our own front lines," Murphy tweeted.

BREAKING: @NewJerseyOAG, through @ConsumerNJ, will begin issuing temporary emergency licenses to foreign-licensed physicians.



We're now the FIRST state to begin fully tapping the tremendous wealth of international knowledge and experience to help us on our own front lines. — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 17, 2020

On Thursday, Murphy said that the state's schools will be closed until at least May 15.

He had ordered the state’s more than 600 school districts to close last month as part of an effort to halt the spread of the virus.

Murphy also said that the number of deaths due to the coronavirus climbed by 362 to 3,518. There are more than 75,000 residents with the virus, he said.

Despite the growing number of positive tests and a surging death toll, Murphy said social distancing efforts “are working.” As evidence, he said that the rate the number of cases doubles has been going up across the state from about every three days to seven days.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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