New Jersey coronavirus update: What's next? It's not obvious, Murphy says

NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- What's next for New Jersey? Governor Phil Murphy says it's not obvious.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Murphy said he would not shut indoor dining in restaurants without "absolute evidence" of spread.

"You shut without absolute evidence that there is spread and transmission, you shut non-essential workplaces or indoor dining, you are basically putting a bullet in them," he said. "And unless we see explicit transmission coming out of there, that's blood on our hands in a different respect."

RELATED: Newark issuing 10-day stay-at-home advisory

While next steps may not be obvious, Murphy also said everything is on the table.

"We are in a vortex of cold weather, it's getting darker, and you have one holiday after another," he said. "Everything is on the table. There is no necessarily obvious next up to bat. We would really like to see what's in place take hold."

The vaccine is expected to arrive in New Jersey in limited amounts in December, state health commissioner Judith Persichilli said.

At least 400,000 doses of vaccine should be in the state by early January, she said.

The state health department wants to vaccinate front-line workers first, and 70% of the state's population (4.7 million) within six months of the vaccine being ready.

RELATED: A Quarter Million - America's Loss: Where are the hardest hit communities in our area?

Investigative reporter Dan Krauth reports on how communities in the tristate area have been affected by covid-19.

New Jersey is also expanding testing as demand rises. Multiple pop-up testing sites are planned in several hotspot areas.

Testing is free. Insurance is requested but not required. Do not eat or drink 30 minutes before testing.

Harrison:

9 am to 4 pm, Saturday, November 21

Harrison Community Center, 401 Warren Street, Harrison, NJ 07029

Jersey City

9 am to 4 pm, Monday, November 23 and Wednesday, November 25

United Way, 857 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306

Jersey City

1 pm to 7 pm, Monday, November 23 and Wednesday, November 25

Mary McLeod Bethune Center, 140 Martin Luther King Drive, Jersey City, NJ 07305

Totowa (Passaic County)

10 am to 2 pm, Saturday, November 28

Passaic County Senior Services, 930 Riverview Drive, Totowa, NJ 07512

Union City

Wednesdays and Saturdays, November 18 - December 30

1600 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Union City, New Jersey 07087

Visit covid19.nj.gov for updates.

TRENDING | Rapper seen on video with flamethrower on top of MTA bus in Brooklyn surrenders

A rapper was recorded shooting a flamethrower from the top of an occupied MTA bus.

CDC updated Thanksgiving guidelines

New York, New Jersey, Connecticut out-of-state travelers information

New CDC guidelines on masks

New York City Positivity Tracker

How coronavirus changed the New York region

Do you have coronavirus symptoms?

UPDATES

New York City

New Jersey

Long Island

Westchester and Hudson Valley

Connecticut

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on coronavirus

Submit a News Tip