Gov. Phil Murphy
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy won’t be holding his live COVID-19 briefings until his voluntary quarantine is over. Photo by Rich Hundley III.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy canceled his live COVID-19 briefing and all of his other in-person events on Wednesday because a member of his family has tested positive for the coronavirus.

“A member of the governor’s family recently tested positive for COVID-19. Per guidance from public health officials, the contact tracing process has begun to notify everyone who may have come into contact with the governor’s family member during the potential infection window,” said Mahen Gunaratna, the communications director for the governor, in a written statement.

“After careful review, the governor does not qualify as an exposed close contact. However, out of an abundance of caution and in line with the highest level of commitment to protecting public health, the governor will be canceling inperson events and voluntarily quarantining before resuming any in-person engagements,” Gunaratna said.

Murphy received a COVID-19 test on Wednesday morning as part of a regularly scheduled testing regime. Gunaratna said the test came back negative, but the governor was still quarantining.

“From the beginning, the governor has taken every precaution to limit the spread of COVID-19,” Gunaratna said. “Today’s exceedingly cautious steps are part of that ongoing commitment.”