Split Decision: How has Murphy done with COVID?

Offered another chance for a different career, teaching sounds perfect.

As an instructor, students would offer habitual repetition that — It’s hard to earn an ‘A’ in Mr. Parker’s class.

Even more difficult to gain top political grades during COVID-19 although Gov. Phil Murphy receives honors for leading during an extremely difficult crisis.

His daily updates with Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli offered valuable information and included explanations for decisions.

Murphy’s redundancy of wear masks, wash hands, maintain safe distance and avoid crowds produced a blue print for safety. “Flatten the curve” became Murphy’s signature message.

He accepted no excuses from residents who crowded parks or misguided suggestions from politicians.

April 2020 allowed Murphy optimum leverage of his political powers.

Atlantic County Surrogate James Curcio posted on Facebook that officials in his county “need to sound the alarm.”

“Reopen New Jersey immediately without restrictions,” Curcio, a Republican, pressed. “Trust American freedom ingenuity and the US Constitution. Untie the hands of the Private Sector so it can rescue NJ from this nightmare.”

Murphy delivered a smack down.

“That is irresponsible. We untie the system right now, there will be blood on our hands,” Murphy said. “I want to make sure folks understand this. This is literally life-and-death. What we need now is responsible leadership. We don’t need irresponsible.

“Anybody out there who thinks ‘let’s just open the place up’ will lead to lower infections, lower hospitalizations and lower fatalities is being completely, utterly irresponsible.”

Plus, Murphy kept communication lines open with then President Donald Trump, pushing for federal support. Politics took a back seat to pandemic.

Perfect. So, why a B-minus. Well, jury’s still out about COVID-19’s impact on nursing homes.

New Jersey reported 7,924 long-term care facility deaths, of which 7,827 were residents and 143 were staff.

Murphy alleged a number of long care nursing homes failed to follow state instructions regarding housing infected clients.

Appearing on CBS’s Face the Nation, Murphy acknowledged an independent review “gave us a pretty brutal assessment.”

Murphy said his administration maintained transparency.

Another grade impacter involved public schools. Thought New Jersey should have attempted to have inschool and hybrid education last September. Most state students have lost significant ground regarding learning.

Finally, not happy with vaccine roll out although applaud Murphy’s optimism of improving conditions.