By Associated Press - Tuesday, April 28, 2020

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey homeowners facing economic strain from COVID-19 as well as a May 1 deadline to pay their property taxes could take until June 1 under an executive order Gov. Phil Murphy signed on Tuesday.

The new order comes the same day the state recorded the highest number of coronavirus deaths yet at 402, bringing the overall toll to 6,442. There were about 3,000 new positive cases since Monday, bringing the total to about 114,000.

Murphy, a Democrat, stressed that the death toll spike doesn’t reflect a big jump overnight, but instead shows the number of deaths from the weekend are still being counted.

New Jersey property taxpayers face among the highest taxes in the nation at nearly $9,000 a year on average.

The order authorizes local governments, which levy property taxes, to grant a one-month grace period to taxpayers. Under current law, the grace period is just 10 days. The order also means that taxpayers won’t incur penalties or interest if they take advantage of the grace period.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks. Older adults and people with existing health problems are at higher risk of more severe illness or death.

A look at other developments:

RESTART COMMISSION

A 21-member commission will begin to advise state government on reopening the economy, Murphy said Tuesday.

The panel includes a number of national figures. Among them are former Obama administration officials Jeh Johnson, former Homeland Security Secretary, and Lisa Jackson, one-time Environmental Protection Agency administrator. Also on the commission is former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

The state must first meet meet four criteria, including boosting testing and contact tracing, along with seeing downward trends in cases and deaths, the governor said Monday as part of a six-point plan to reopen the state.

Among the Commission’s first tasks will advising on the timing of the restart, Murphy said.

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FLYOVER

The Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds flew over the hardest-hit parts of the country on Tuesday, part of what the Pentagon called a show of national solidarity in the face of the outbreak.

The two flight demonstration teams flew over New York City, Philadelphia and the New Jersey cities of Newark and Trenton.

Near Trenton and under a cloudless sky, the jets drew people who’ve been sheltering inside for weeks to their sidewalks and yards, where they shared a moment of awe while still remaining apart.

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‘OPEN JERSEY NOW’

Protesters flouted the state’s stay-home and social distancing policies on Tuesday, congregating outside the theater where Murphy held his news conference on the virus.

NJ.com reported that they chanted Open Jersey now, while other carried American and Don’t Tread On Me flags. Some wore Make America Great Again hats.

Murphy said during the news conference he didn’t begrudge people their right to protest but wished they’d do it from home.

“This is America. We all have First Amendment rights,” he said. “Driving over here, I can see they’re congregating. That’s the last thing we need right now.”

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