Gov. Phil Murphy (D) unexpectedly encountered some anti-vaccine protesters at a bill signing event in Union City, causing him to lash out: “You are the ultimate knuckleheads and because of what you are saying and standing for people are losing their life!”
As he took the podium, the governor declared that the State of New Jersey was reporting over 1,100 new cases, 13 fatalities, 598 hospitalizations – 99 in the intensive care unit and 90 who went into the hospital yesterday and 76 who left, with a rate of positivity over five percent.
Also noting that the rate of transmission is coming down, Murphy began to notice a group of protesters that were carrying signs that said “Medical choice is a human right” and “No forced injections.”
“Please get vaccinated if you are not vaccinated. We are not out of the fight. Please get vaccinated! Period! These folks back there have lost their minds – you’ve lost your minds!,” he shouted.
“You are the ultimate knuckleheads and because of what you are saying and standing for people are losing their life! And you have to know that! Look in the mirror! Look in the mirror!”
On Monday, Murphys announced that employees at a number of facilities including nursing and veterans homes, hospitals, as well as jails, would either need to be fully vaccinated or submit to coronavirus testing once or twice a week as of September 7th.