Hackensack, N.J. – Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco today rescinded his Executive Order 2020-1B at the request of the Governor.  The County Executive will hold a news conference today – March 19 – at 5:30 p.m. at Two Bergen County Plaza to discuss these recent developments and the next steps he will be taking to protect the residents, visitors and workers of Bergen County (details on the press conference here).

Tedesco said on Wednesday that he submitted the revised executive order to the Governor for review.  During his daily briefing on Tuesday, Murphy appealed to county and local governments to coordinate with the state. “We will override local and county actions to make sure we are consistent in our approach,” Murphy said.

At Thursday’s daily media briefing, Murphy ordered the closing of all nonessential businesses in the state starting tonight. “I am ordering effective 8:00pm the closure of all personal care businesses like barber shops, spas, hair salons, nail salons, tattoo parlors among others, and social clubs, until further notice.”Murphy said. “We are as aggressive as any American state… but we reserve the right to revisit the steps we’ve taken and assess whether or not we should take further steps,” he added.  The Governor noted that among the new fatalities related to the virus was a Bergen County man in his ’30s.

Revisions to the original Executive Order, 2020-1B, were sent to Governor Murphy’s office for review.  As a result of discussions with the Murphy administration, EO #2020-1B will not be implemented on Saturday, March 21st at 8 a.m.  The Murphy Administration has stated that the only closures that could be enforced were those issued by the Governor. All other Executive Orders remain in effect.

Executive Order 2020-1B has never been enacted but was delayed to work with the Governor’s Office and to take the opportunity to revisit areas of the Executive Order that the County had received feedback on from the business community and the public.

Tedesco said he will continue to lead the fight to slow the deadly spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) throughout Bergen County.

Prior to submitting the order for review,  Tedesco on Tuesday afternoon had postponed the Saturday morning implementation of the order. On Monday night, Tedesco announced the order, which would expand restrictions on public and private activity and was set to commence 11pm on Tuesday night.  It includes the temporary closure of shopping centers, offices and other facilities. Last week, Tedesco announced the supplemental executive order to the state of emergency declaration, and had ordered schools to close and transition to online learning prior the statewide schools shutdown.

The county has 195 presumptive positive cases of coronavirus, according to the NJDOH as of Thursday at 11:30am.

Tomorrow, Friday March 20, Bergen County Community College will host a FEMA backed coronavirus testing site.  “Individuals with respiratory symptoms are eligible for testing,” NJDOH Persichilli said at state officials’ afternoon briefing on Thursday.  Individuals should bring proof of NJ residency with them.  She said the site will have the capacity to collect 2,500 specimens a week. The testing site will be open from 8:00am to 4:00pm where those coming will be tested for symptoms.  Asymptomatic individuals will be turned away.  “This is not for the ‘worried well’,” Murphy said. While a doctor’s note is not required, officials encouraged those with medical documentation to bring it if possible.

COVID-19 Cases by County (There are 742 positive cases and 9 deaths statewide as of Thursday at 11:30am).

Data is provisional and subsequent to revision.

118 Positives Pending Further Information

Bergen County:

195 Positive Test Result(s)

Middlesex County:

64 Positive Test Result(s)

Essex County:

63 Positive Test Result(s)

Hudson County:

55 Positive Test Result(s)

Monmouth County:

43 Positive Test Result(s)

Passaic County:

38 Positive Test Result(s)

Ocean County:

33 Positive Test Result(s)

Union County:

29 Positive Test Result(s)

Morris County:

26 Positive Test Result(s)

Somerset County:

21 Positive Test Result(s)

Mercer County:

20 Positive Test Result(s)

Burlington County:

14 Positive Test Result(s)

Camden County:

13 Positive Test Result(s)

Hunterdon County:

8 Positive Test Result(s)

Atlantic County:

3 Positive Test Result(s)

Gloucester County:

3 Positive Test Result(s)

Warren County:

3 Positive Test Result(s)

Sussex County:

2 Positive Test Result(s)

Cape May County:

1 Positive Test Result(s)

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2020-1B final