Governor Phil Murphy addressed the COVID-19 positive test of his counsel, Matt Platkin, and how Platkin accessed a test if he did not present symptoms.

“He appreciates everyone reaching out to him but he’s doing fine,” Murphy told reporters at the war Memorial. “He came in contact with a number of people who tested positive.”

Why did he get a test?

“Every single executive order that I have signed has been written by Matt and his colleagues,” Murphy. “We need him.

“He was never in this room with any knowledge [of being COVID-19 positive],” the governor added. “He was not symptomatic and, thank God, remains so.

“I havent been with Matt in a whole bunch of days,” Murphy said.

Even when they shared a room as they did during the War Memorial briefings, the governor said he was 20 feet removed from his attorney.

From the NJ.com story:

Platkin was one of Murphy’s earliest supporters and has served as Murphy’s chief counsel since the governor took office. He worked on Murphy’s campaign prior to the election.

Gunaratna didn’t provide additional specifics about whether other senior officials were tested. He did say Murphy, who is recovering from surgery he had March 4 to remove a cancerous tumor from his kidney, has not been tested since Platkin’s diagnosis.

But at least one other close aide to the governor was also tested for the virus, according to two sources with knowledge but weren’t authorized to speak on the record.