New Jersey Holds Final COVID-19 Briefing On 2 Year Anniversary Of 1st Confirmed Case In State

TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) – On this two-year anniversary of the first confirmed COVID case in New Jersey, an emotional Gov. Phil Murphy announced Friday an end to the final safety restrictions.

"We are ready to move forward and not to live our lives in fear," Murphy said.

After two years battling COVID-19 and 257 briefings, this was the last one as Gov. Murphy ends New Jersey's public health emergency

"As coronavirus moves from pandemic to endemic, and as we transition away from crisis management to a more normal way of life, it is the right time," Murphy said.

COVID-19 hit New Jersey early and hard, mainly in the more populated northern counties close to New York.

Two years ago in Hackensack, James Cai was New Jersey's first confirmed case of  COVID-19.

Since then, New Jersey has had 1.8 million reported cases and one of the highest death rates in the country.

"Of the more than 30,000 lives we've lost, so for all of them, let's do one final moment of silence," Murphy said.

After a roller coaster of ups and downs, COVID cases in New Jersey are now steadily declining and vaccinations are improving with 92% of residents now having received at least one dose.

"The challenge before us is to define the new normal as we expect COVID to remain with us," New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said. "We need to stay vigilant and integrate all that we have learned."

The last remaining restriction in New Jersey will be gone on Monday when the school mask mandate is lifted.

"You put in the hard work and as we move to this next phase, all I can say is this: be safe, be smart, enjoy upcoming spring and warmer weather, enjoy getting together with family and friends," Murphy said.

It was only two months ago that New Jersey had the highest number of daily cases, about 33,000. They've plummeted since then and now we've entered what the governor calls our new normal.