As the country reopens slowly and people flock to tourists spots once more a question remains in the mind of many. Will it come back?

New Jersey being one of the most population dense states in one of the most populated regions allowed for COVID-19 to spread faster than in most areas, and while the spread of the virus has slowed significantly that does not mean it is eradicated and that does not mean it won’t come back.

New Jersey has reported at least 11,339 deaths attributed to COVID-19, with 156,628 cases, since the outbreak began here March 4. Only New York has more deaths and cases among American States. Since May 27th, 148 new deaths and 970 positive cases have been reported within New Jersey. 

Governor Phil Murphy stated “We’re probably more at risk than other parts of the country,” he said, adding that similar viruses in the past have shown “a propensity to come back in the fall/winter.” 

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House’s top infectious disease expert, stated that a second wave of COVID-19 is possible but that does not mean it is inevitable. He further said that “States have to reopen properly” if they wish to avoid a resurgence of the viral contagion. “Don’t start leapfrogging over the recommendations of some of the guidelines, because that’s really tempting fate and asking for trouble,” Fauci told CNN on May 27th.

Governor Murphy stressed the potential of the new contract tracing method, having met his goal of testing 20,000 people a day. “It wasn’t any different assessment as to the probability of a second wave,” Murphy said. “It was through testing, infrastructure, and contact tracing infrastructure and isolation capacity, that we were far better equipped to deal with a second wave than we either were for the first wave as a country, or than we had been prepared in the past for second waves of things like H1N1.”

Murphy has said the state is getting closer to Stage 2 of its multi-stage reopening plan, though he has yet to provide hard dates or data benchmarks the state needs to hit.

Many people have wanted the state opened up with the slowing of COVID into May, especially with the summer months coming up. However with the virus still spreading many have wondered how to open the country up without causing a resurgence COVID-19.

A few basic things can be done without continuing the near lockdown-like the state the nation has been in. Continue social distancing. Keep yourself 6 feet apart from others. Wash your hands. Cough and sneeze away from people and or into your sleeve. Wear a mask when out in public. 

It’s not required that people stay locked up in their houses. However, people should still take precautions whenever they are out and about.