Allow me to be your proof that the virus is still among us, Murphy says in first post-COVID appearance – NJ.com

In his first public appearance since testing positive for the coronavirus last week, Gov. Phil Murphy urged people Wednesday to remember COVID-19 is still here and to be cautious.

The governor spoke in Jersey City at St. Peters Universitys 150th Anniversary Founders Week Celebration. He had been isolated at his home for five days prior.

Allow my experience to be a reminder that even though we may be past the worst of COVID, we are not entirely past COVID, Murphy said. Allow me to be your proof that the virus is still among us and please use me as your example of the need to continue to be smart and safe, and continue to use common sense and common courtesy.

Murphy credited being vaccinated and boosted for being able to make it through COVID with nothing more than mild symptoms.

The 64-year-old governor added he was planning to get his second booster recommended for people over 50 years old around the time he tested positive for the virus.

Murphys office said Friday the governor was experiencing minor symptoms a day after he tested positive. He took a rapid antigen test Thursday afternoon as part of his regularly scheduled testing regime, and it came back positive, his office said. Murphy then took a PCR test, which also came back positive, the office said. PCR tests are more reliable.

Murphy is considered high risk because he had a cancerous tumor removed from his kidney on March 4, 2020, the same day the state reported its first known case of the virus.

New Jerseys COVID-19 numbers plummeted in recent months after a record spike in December and January fueled by the omicron variant. Murphys diagnosis comes as the state is seeing its COVID-19 cases begin to tick up slightly again, though they are still relatively low.

BA.2, also known as the omicron stealth variant, now makes up the majority of cases in North America. Officials have said the strain appears to spread more easily but does not cause more severe illness.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.

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Allow me to be your proof that the virus is still among us, Murphy says in first post-COVID appearance - NJ.com