Coronavirus Cases On The Rise In 19 States

REPORTING LIVE FROM PITMAN,ALICEA REID, CBS3 "EYEWITNESSNEWS."PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR TOMWOLF TODAY ANNOUNCED THECOUNTIES THAT WOULD MOVE TOTHE GREEN PHASE OF REOPENINGNEXT FRIDAY.NOT ON THE LIST, SOUTHEASTERNPARTS OF THE STATE.THAT COVERS PHILADELPHIA ANDTHE SURROUNDING COUNTIES.SO, THIS AREA WILL STAY IN THEYELLOW PHASE FOR AT LEASTANOTHER TWO WEEKS.THAT IN SPITE AVENUE CONTINUEDREDUCTION IN CASES OFCOVID-19.HEALTH REPORTER STEPHANIESTAHL IS HERE NOW WITH MORE.STEPHANIE.Reporter: WELL, JESSICA,WHILE THERE HAS BEEN NEWOUTBREAKS IN OTHER PARTS OFTHE COUNTRY, WE'VE BEEN MAKINGPROGRESS HERE IN THE TRI-STATEREGION.HEALTH EXPERTS SAY MOVINGFORWARD WILL DEPEND ONCONTINUED PRECAUTIONARYMEASURES WEARING MASKS ANDSOCIAL DISTANCING.GOVERNOR MURPHY SAYS NEWJERSEY HAS BEEN DOING A GOODJOB.OUR TRANSMISSION RATE HASDROPPED TO AMONG THE LOWEST INTHE UNITED STATES.Reporter: GOVERNOR MURPHYWITH BRAGGING RIGHTS FOR NEWJERSEY BUT IN 19 OTHER STATESTHERE'S BEEN AN INCREASE INUNFORTUNATELY THEY'VEBACKED OFF THE KINDS OFPRECAUTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVEBEEN RECOMMENDING.Reporter: DR. JOHN ZERLOIS THE HEAD OF INFECTIOUSDISEASES AT JEFFERSONHOSPITAL.THE FACT THAT A LOT OF STATESARE IN THE SOUTH WHERE IT'SWARMER YOU DON'T THINK ISIMPACTING THIS TREND.I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANYREAL EVIDENCE THAT'S THE CASE.Reporter: NATIONWIDETHERE'S BEEN AN OVERALLDECLINE OF COVID-19.THE SURGES ARE HAPPENING INPLACES LIKE FLORIDA WHERE THEBEACHES HAVE BEEN PACKED.RUSCH TO REOPEN WITHOUTTAKING TIME TO PUT PROTOCOLSIN PLACE.THE FOOL HARDNESS OF THEIRACTIONS IS BEING SEEN.Reporter: ONE MODEL ISINGSUGGESTING ALMOST 170,000DEATHS NATIONWIDE BYOCTOBER 1ST.THE VIRUS IS GOING TO DOWHAT THE VIRUS IS GOING TO DO.I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WE HAVEFULL CONTROL OF IT BUT WE HAVETO BE COGNIZANT THIS HAS NOTGONE AWAY.SHOWED A MAP INDICATING NEWJERSEY IS AHEAD OF THE CURVE.THIS TELLS US THAT WE'REBETTER PREPARED AT THIS TIMETO MOVE FORWARD THAN MANYFRANKLY MOST OF OUR PEERS.Reporter: TO AVOID ASURGE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAYIT'S IMPORTANT THATRESTRICTIONS PUT IN PLACEEARLY ARE LIFTED SLOWLY.I THINK WE'RE DOING THINGSTHE RIGHT WAY.IS IT ENOUGH TO OPEN UP THEECONOMY, THAT REMAINS TO BESEEN.THAT'S A CHALLENGE.BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO DO ITGRADUALLY.Reporter: AND THE DOCTORSAYS WEARING A MASK IN PUBLICIS THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGYOU CAN DO TO GUARD AGAINST