New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy entered quarantine on Wednesday. | Noah K. Murray/AP Photo
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and first lady Tammy Murphy tested negative for Covid-19 on Saturday, he announced on Twitter, after they were exposed to a staffer a week ago who later turned up positive.
“@FirstLadyNJ and I just got #COVID19 tests and thankfully tested negative,” Murphy tweeted. “This pandemic is not over, and we all need to stay vigilant. Wear a mask. Social distance. Wash your hands.”
Background: This week, Murphy has had to confront two positive cases of the virus among his inner circle at the same time when coronavirus cases are spiking in New Jersey.
Murphy entered quarantine on Wednesday after being alerted during a press conference that Mike DeLamater, his deputy chief of staff, had tested positive. Murphy met with some advisers for drinks outside at a bar in Hoboken last Saturday, and DeLameter attended for about 15 minutes but was not in close contact with the couple for a sustained period, according to the governor’s office. Murphy said they adhered to the state’s safety guidelines, and wore masks to the table but took them off while eating and drinking.
Murphy spokesperson Dan Bryan, who was not at the gathering, has also tested positive for the virus and remains asymptomatic.
The governor’s office said later on Saturday that Bryan has since received two negative tests. He plans to stay in quarantine.
The administration tested 66 people who work in the building in Trenton where the governor’s office is located. All of the people tested negative.
What’s next? Murphy and the first lady plan to get one more Covid-19 test before resuming in person events next week.
