Coronavirus: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy tests positive

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has tested positive for COVID-19, his office announced on Thursday.

Murphy, 64, took a rapid antigen test Thursday afternoon as part of his regularly scheduled testing regimen, and the results came back positive, Mahen Gunaratna, the governor’s communications director, said in a statement.

Murphy then took a PCR test that also had a positive result, NJ.com reported. The governor is asymptomatic and feeling well, Gunaratna said.

This afternoon, as part of a regularly-scheduled testing regime, @GovMurphy took a rapid antigen test that came back positive for COVID-19. He subsequently took a PCR test, which also came back positive. He is currently asymptomatic and feeling well.
— Mahen Gunaratna (@GunaRockYa) March 31, 2022

The Governor has diligently taken precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19 and encourages everyone eligible to get vaccinated and boosted, as he has done, to protect themselves and their loved ones from the virus.
— Mahen Gunaratna (@GunaRockYa) March 31, 2022

“The contact tracing process has begun to notify everyone who may have come into contact with the governor during the potential infection window,” Gunaratna said in the statement. “Per CDC guidance, the governor will cancel in-person events, isolate for the next five days, and continue to monitor for symptoms before taking an additional PCR test.”

Murphy is scheduled to appear on his regular call-in radio show on WBGO in Newark on Thursday night, NJ.com reported. He will still appear but via telephone, his office said.

Murphy’s office has begun contact tracking to “notify everyone who may have come into contact with the governor during the potential infection window,” Gunaratna said in his statement.