NJ flags going back to full-staff after three months honoring coronavirus victims

Flags across New Jersey will be raised Friday for the first time in three months since Gov. Phil Murphy ordered them lowered to half-staff in honor of those who died from COVID-19. 

"This is not a moment of closure. This is not a moment of triumph," Murphy said at a briefing Thursday. "This is an acknowledgment that the time is right." 

He had ordered flags lowered on April 3, when the state had 646 COVID-related deaths. That figure of lab-confirmed deaths grew exponentially, to 13,251 on Thursday. Another 1,856 deaths are considered probable, according to the Department of Health. 

More deaths are inevitable as the virus continues to spread, albeit at a much lower rate than it did at its peak in April. Murphy did not specify why he decided the time was right to raise the flags.  

"Regardless of our flags' positions on our flagpole, we are fighting this virus together, all 9 million of us," he said. "We will keep fighting until every indicator we track reads zero and we will dedicate our efforts to every life that has been lost and sadly will be lost." 

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New Jersey has made great strides in tamping down the spread of the virus since it first arrived in March. It is in the midst of the second stage of reopening, with amusement parks, museums and libraries allowed to reopen Thursday. But Murphy decided earlier in the week to halt limited indoor dining planned for Thursday because of fears of increased spread, reckless behavior at certain establishments and spikes in other states. 

In addition to raising flags Friday, Murphy said he would also raise the capacity limit on outdoor gatherings to 500, which could help accommodate schools' outdoor graduations that are allowed next week. 

Dustin Racioppi is a reporter in the New Jersey Statehouse. For unlimited access to his work covering New Jersey’s governor and political power structure, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: racioppi@northjersey.com Twitter: @dracioppi