New executive orders from Gov. Phil Murphy also mandate special shopping hours for those vulnerable to the coronavirus and protective gear for essential retail employees.





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TRENTON — Primary elections will be delayed to July, most construction will be shut down indefinitely and everyone must wear cloth face coverings when they grocery shop, under new executive orders announced by Gov. Phil Murphy Wednesday.

At his afternoon news conference, Murphy struck a grave tone and stressed that New Jersey continues to be in the "fight of its life."

"We need to continue to be so vigilant and if anything tighten not loosen" social-distancing rules, Murphy said.

The governor’s demeanor was a marked change from recent press briefings during which he expressed cautious optimism about the state’s decreasing rate of coronavirus infection.

New Jersey saw an additional 275 coronavirus deaths — the largest death toll to date — for a statewide total of 1,504 fatalities, including at least 23 in Burlington County, state and county health officials said Wednesday.

Officials also reported 3,088 new coronavirus cases, bringing New Jersey’s count to 47,437.

Burlington County officials reported 64 new confirmed cases and seven additional deaths Wednesday. The county now has 844 known COVID-19 cases and 23 residents have died of complications of the virus, officials said.

Social distancing will be particularly important — and particularly difficult — as Passover, Easter and Ramadan approach, Murphy acknowledged Wednesday.

"We cannot gather together, not indoors or outdoors. We will have to get creative to gather together virtually," he said. "Don’t let the warm weather or the holidays fool us, we remain in the fight of our lives."

Murphy’s new executive orders address topics the governor has been asked about repeatedly.

The first executive order delays June 2 primary elections to July 7. The delay will allow more people to vote in person, if the current shutdown has been lifted, Murphy said. If, however, the public health crisis is ongoing this summer, and all voting must be by mail, the state needs extra time to ensure sufficient infrastructure, Murphy added.

"Democracy cannot be a casualty of COVID-19," Murphy said Wednesday. "We want to ensure every voter can vote without endangering their health and safety."

The primaries include those for president, U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and county and municipal elections, according to the executive order. There are contested races in the 2nd and 3rd congressional districts, which include Burlington County.

Last month, Murphy delayed certain March and April elections until May 12.

The second executive order is intended to further New Jersey’s "aggressive" approach to social distancing by placing new restrictions on the construction industry and grocery stores, according to Murphy.

"If you think that, for some reason, just because the curve is starting to flatten that we are out of the woods, this executive order will disavow you of that," Murphy said.

Under the order, all nonessential construction must cease effective 8 p.m. Friday.

Exceptions include: construction of hospitals and schools; transportation and utility projects; affordable housing projects; other individual housing sites that can adhere to strict limits on workers on site at any given time; emergency repairs; and other "limited instances."

The order also mandates that, among other things, all essential retail stores must limit customers to 50% of their approved capacity; customers and employees must wear face coverings; special hours must be provided for those vulnerable to the coronavirus; physical barriers must be erected between customers and cashiers where possible; and stores must regularly sanitize areas used by their employees.

Asked about how people who refuse to wear masks will be handled, Murphy said "I hope people get asked to leave."

"My personal guidance is you’ve got to go out and find something to put on your face before you come in," Murphy said.

Parimal Garg, the governor’s deputy chief counsel, noted that the order directs supermarkets to allow those without coverings access to the store but to limit their time and proximity to other customers.

"I think that’s benevolent," Murphy said about the policy. "I’d prefer to be even tougher than that."

The order also stipulates that employees must wear gloves and that employers must provide and pay for the gloves and face coverings.

People who are medically unable to wear a mask and children under 2 are exempt under the executive order.

The governor noted that the new grocery store rules are to protect customers and essential workers, not to ration food supplies.

"We are not running out of food or other items. Our supply chain is feeling the stress but it is holding strong," Murphy said.

The third executive order increases the weight limit on trucks carrying essential coronavirus health care supplies.

Worldwide there were more than 1.45 million coronavirus cases worldwide and about 401,000 in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Check back for more updates.