NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy continues to urge residents to stay home and practice social distancing as the number of positive cases in his state continue to climb.

As of Wednesday afternoon, there were 736 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of positive cases in the Garden State to 4,402.

Murphy also announced that the number of new deaths were 18, bringing the statewide death toll to 62.

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We have 736 new positive #COVID19 cases, bringing our total to 4,402.

• Atlantic: 9

• Bergen: 819

• Burlington: 48

• Camden: 61

• Cumberland: 3

• Cape May: 4

• Essex: 381

• Gloucester: 23

• Hudson: 260

• Hunterdon: 25 pic.twitter.com/iK9w76Lbih — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 25, 2020

• Mercer: 82

• Middlesex: 316

• Monmouth: 313

• Morris: 223

• Ocean: 222

• Passaic: 255

• Salem: 1

• Somerset: 117

• Sussex: 27

• Union: 262

• Warren: 18

• Under Investigation: 933 — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 25, 2020

Murphy also signed signed an executive order on Wednesday, requiring all child care centers to close by April 1st unless they certify that they are solely serving children of essential workers. All child care centers in New Jersey need to certify by Friday, March 27.

"Essential personnel are a vital part of our response and limiting child care to solely these individuals will assist in flattening the curve of COVID-19 cases, as well as provide our front-line workers with the critical services they need to get through this emergency," said Murphy. "A lack of child care cannot be a barrier for our essential employees, and while these workers commit themselves to our New Jersey family, we will commit ourselves to protecting their families."

BREAKING: I just signed an Executive Order requiring child care centers to close by April 1st UNLESS they are solely serving children of essential workers.



While essential workers commit themselves to our New Jersey family, we will commit ourselves to protecting their families. — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 25, 2020

He also announced that Essex County will soon open a testing center that will be available for county residents only.

Essential workers will be prioritized for testing at this center.

Giving New Jerseyans an update on COVID-19. WATCH: https://t.co/09lZwZ0HRx — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 25, 2020

The governor wants to be overprepared and "be ready to act decively".

He said that the the state wants increase hospital capacity and add at least 2,000 additional beds in hospitals adding that "no cost that is too high to save a precious life."

The governor said Tuesday there were non-essential businesses that were not complying with his stay home order.

We’re hearing too many reports of some non-retail businesses which are violating the order requiring 100% work-from-home with some limited exception.



Let me be clear: my Executive Order is not a polite suggestion. It is an order. — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 24, 2020

"No one who can do their job from home should be going to work in an office," Murphy said. "We must have 100% compliance. This is about people’s lives, your employees' lives, their families’ lives, and your life."

Inquiries about failures to comply should call 609-963-6817.

Sen. Bob Menendez called in to 1010 WINS on Wednesday and said the money coming from a $2 trillion federal stimulus package will be a big help to New Jersey.

"I think that it will do great for New Jersey. Number one, it's a bill that has a win for New Jersey's workers, for New Jersey's small businesses, for our hospitals because the first and foremost thing to do is to have a Marshall Plan for our healthcare system that is at the frontline of meeting this challenge. We put over $150 billion for hospitals and health facilities. I think the $260 billion is going to be directly important," Menendez said.

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Menendez also said most Garden State residents will get approximately $1,200 each or $2,400 per couple.