Murphy cancels events, quarantines after coronavirus exposure

Gov. Phil Murphy (D-N.J.) canceled all of his in-person events through the end of this weekend and will quarantine with his wife after learning a member of his senior staff tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). 

Murphy first learned of the positive result yesterday during an event at Camden County College regarding funding for workforce development programs, resulting in his abrupt departure.

“I was just informed by my colleagues that I was in close proximity to someone on Saturday who has just tested positive,” he said at the event.

Mahen Gunaratna, Murphy’s communications director, said Murphy is tested regularly and was last tested on Monday, which came back negative. After leaving the event yesterday, Murphy took another COVID-19 test, which also came back negative. 

As of yesterday, Murphy said he was not experiencing any symptoms of the virus. Despite the negative tests and lack of symptoms, Gunaratna said Murphy would still take a cautious approach and self-isolate. 

“As you all know, if I was with someone Saturday night and got tested Sunday morning, that doesn’t really tell you a lot,” Murphy said at the event. “You’ve got to wait and see to make sure there wasn’t any incubating.” 

Murphy also said he would be quarantining as a matter of principle, and referenced his previous criticism of President Donald J. Trump, who came to New Jersey for a fundraiser after being exposed to COVID-19 and later tested positive himself, The Daily Targum reported. 

“I will now, unfortunately, have to take myself off the field,” he said. “I can’t ask President Trump not to come to Bedminster and do a fundraiser and have me sit here.”

Gunaratna said the staff member who tested positive is in quarantine at home and that officials have begun contact tracing. Murphy and his wife will both take an additional COVID-19 test before resuming any in-person events.