coronavirus new jersey

Coronavirus News: New Jersey to double coronavirus testing in effort to reopen

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

NJ to double coronavirus testing in effort to reopen

NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- New Jersey plans to double the number of coronavirus tests to more than 20,000 by the end of May, Governor Phil Murphy said on Tuesday.

The testing plan will utilize mobile testing units like the testing site at Bergen Community College, which accepts those without symptoms.

The mobile testing site is designed for those who do not have cars and will provide testing for COVID-19 and antibodies.

The site will also move each day, and stops include Hackensack and Fairview over the next two days.

Murphy said the state would not only test the general population, but also all residents and staff members at the state's nursing homes and long-term facilities where a third of New Jersey's deaths have occured.

Gov. Murphy says NJ seeks 20,000 tests by end of May

The state is also allocating $6M in federal funding to Rutgers University to increase the production of rapid saliva tests.

Murphy also wants to open testing in more places, announcing that CVS Pharmacy will provide testing at dozens of its stores by the end of May.

The governor also announced plans to more than double the number of contact tracers working in New Jersey - another key component of the plan to reopen the state.