Is Murphy winging his virus reopening?
I’m starting to worry that New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is using a Magic 8-Ball to guide his coronavirus decisions.
“Should I allow outdoor dining?” … signs point to yes.
“Can I allow public pools to open?” … reply hazy, try again.
“Am I using health professionals to guide my decision making?” …
Well, on that last one, if you believe members of the state’s Pandemic Response Team, the answer is “very doubtful.”
Bad if true. Period, full stop. Members of this team wrote an anonymous letter to state lawmakers, as first reported by NJ Advance Media. In the letter, they said Murphy hardly ever consults with members of the team — or anyone else when it comes to the coronavirus — and says Murphy and his administration are “making things up as they proceed or making decisions and justifying them on the back end.”
When questioned, Murphy dismissed the allegations, saying, “We don’t spend any time responding to anonymous anything,” according to News 12.
Murphy — who’s big tagline during this crisis has been “data determines dates” — might need a new tagline. Something more like, “my best guess determines dates.”
Listen, I hope this allegation is false. I hope Murphy is in constant contact with top health officials, scientists, and other like-minded individuals. If he’s not — and if he’s just kind of willy-nillying his way through this — his extreme shutdown actions are no better than President Trump’s extreme “don’t shut anything down” actions.
I have been in Murphy’s corner on this one from day one. I have been a strict social distancer from before it became mandatory. I agreed with Murphy — and Cuomo, and the rest of the “batten down the hatches” crew. I agreed with Dr. Fauci and virtually every other public health official.
And now, some three months in, I still agree with the decisions made at the time. I still believe the decision to shut everything down was the correct decision. (Yes, bad decisions were made regarding nursing homes. Column for another day). I still believe in the concept of social distancing, and I still believe people should be wearing masks when in close proximity to one another, especially indoors.
I believe, in short, in science. If the scientists are saying we should be socially distant, then socially distant I shall be. If they tell me tomorrow I don’t have to be socially distant, then socially distant I shall not be. Does this make me sheeple-ish? Well, maybe, but I’d rather be a sheeple free of COVID-19. I’ll take science over faith (or Facebook) any day, all day.
All this time, I’ve thought Murphy must be in consultation with the top minds on this thing. I’ve thought he’s tapping anyone and everyone who knows what they’re talking about. I’ve thought Murphy, and his methodical re-opening of New Jersey, was getting guidance based in science.
According to these whistleblowers, he ain’t.
I’m not ready to believe the whistleblowers at face value, but 20-plus years in this business has taught me that smoke often does indicate fire.
Murphy has been acting like he’s got both hands on the wheel. I want to believe that’s true.
But to stretch the automobile metaphor … if he actually does have both hands on the wheel, it’s time he took the tint off the windows and started explaining, in plain language, how he’s arriving at his timetables. What data, precisely, is determining dates.
And more to the point, who’s telling him this. I want names and titles.
If he doesn’t do that immediately, believing he’s got both hands on the wheel is going to be increasingly difficult, bordering on impossible.
We all want the state — and life — to get back to normal. I agree with the methodical approach. But now, I want proof. I need proof. I demand proof.
Science over faith, all day, every day.