New Jersey remains in a holding pattern for reopening, Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday, meaning there are no immediate plans to let people back inside gyms, movie theaters, indoor dining and other businesses that remain closed.

Believe me, I want to get to gyms, I want to get to indoor dining, I want to get to theaters, Murphy said. But we cant do it if we think were gonna have a likelihood of killing people.

But, Murphy said, he will announce plans Monday for high contact outdoor sports to resume.

New Jersey remains in Stage 2 of its phased reopening plan, which was paused last week as the states transmission rate increased.

The states transmission rate, one of the key units used to measure the spread of the virus, is above the benchmark of 1, at 1.11. It was higher than 5 at the peak of the outbreak but more recently fell below 1 for weeks. It increased to more than 1 earlier this month and has hovered around that mark for the past week.

The states positivity rate, another closely monitored figure, was 1.66% as of Monday, the date for which data is available.

The only way we can keep our positivity rate and Rt low is by taking the precautions that we have across the past four months, the governor said. That means social distancing, wearing a face mask whenever you are out in public, washing your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and staying home if you exhibit any symptoms of respiratory illness.

Officials on Friday announced 202 more cases and 20 additional deaths attributed to the coronavirus, bringing New Jerseys totals to 176,551 confirmed cases and 15,684 fatalities from the virus.

Heres a roundup of coronavirus news:

N.J. struggles to secure PPE for second wave as coronavirus cases surge across the country. While COVID-19 cases in New Jersey have decreased dramatically since the peak three months ago, hospitals across the state are now struggling to stockpile PPE and get speedy test results as hard-hit states like Florida and Texas hundreds of miles away sap up resources.

Music to its ears: Tim Welch Vocal Studio is overcoming COVID-19 virtually. The Maplewood-based studio has been holding online singing lessons and parties where people of all vocal abilities and genres are coming together

You will die in captivity, they told notorious Exxon kidnapper. At risk of Covid, hes asking to get out. Arthur Seale, 28 years after the infamous kidnapping scheme that led to the murder of an Exxon executive, is asking for compassionate release from prison.

2 Jersey Shore towns limit number of badge sales after crowds flock to beaches. Belmar has capped the number of daily beach badges that can be sold at 7,500 per day and Manasquan set a limit of 1,000 per day on Saturdays and Sundays for any type of beach badge.

People who fly into N.J. will be asked to fill out survey amid out-of-state quarantine advisory. People flying into New Jersey will be asked to fill out an electronic survey starting Monday as the Garden State continues to call for travelers arriving from 22 states that qualify as coronavirus hotspots to voluntarily self-quarantine for 14 days.

After warning from teachers union president, Murphy talks school reopening in N.J. The head of New Jerseys largest teachers union said in an interview published Friday that New Jerseys schools dont have enough time to pull together proper protocols to safely reopen by September.

N.J. Supreme Court to decide if state can legally borrow $9.9B to offset losses. The State Republican Committee and Republican lawmakers filed suit against the New Jersey COVID-19 Emergency Bond Act on Thursday evening, shortly after it was passed by the state Legislature. The bond act allows the state to borrow up to $9.9 billion through June 30, 2021, provided borrowing requests are approved by a committee of four lawmakers

Liberty Island will partially reopen next week, Ellis Island to remain closed. After being shuttered for months because of the coronavirus, Liberty Island will partially reopen to visitors on Monday, July 20, the National Park Service announced Friday afternoon.

NJ Advance Media Staff Writers Brent Johnson, Rodrigo Torrejon, Chris Sheldon, Samantha Marcus, Avalon Zoppo, Ryan Patti, Ted Sherman, and contributed to this report.

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Coronavirus update: N.J. in holding pattern; Schools dont have enough planning time; What you need to know - NJ.com