Murphy says FEMA testing sites remain for symptomatic people

TRENTON — Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday said that the FEMA testing sites in New Jersey remain for symptomatic people only.

Murphy corrected a report spurred by a message from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office saying that the testing sites in Holmdel and Paramus would begin testing patients without symptoms.

Murphy said the state would need federal waivers to expand the testing.

The state operates the drive-through facilities with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. One is at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. The other is at Bergen Community College in Paramus.

Beyond the two federally affiliated facilities, New Jersey has about 70 other testing centers across the state and conducts about 9,000 tests a day, according to Gov. Phil Murphy. Murphy said Tuesday he thinks the state needs to double the number of tests it does daily.

Murphy has said the state would need to ramp up testing beyond just symptomatic people before reopening its economy.

New Jersey has 92,000 positive COVID-19 cases and 4,753 deaths.

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

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been updated to reflect correct information about the testing sites.