"The goal is to get Atlantic City casinos reopened by Fourth of July Weekend," mayor says

During a press conference on the future of Trump Plaza on Thursday, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. said the goal is that resort's casinos can resume operations by the Fourth of July Weekend.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos closed March 16 to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

As reported by the Press of Atlantic City, Murphy has said he would like to see Atlantic City’s nine casinos reopened by July 4, but, thus far, has not made any formal decisions.

The number of positive cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey has increased by 539, bringing the total to 165,816, Gov. Phil Murphy said. There have been 70 additional deaths, bringing the state total to 12,443.

"Today marks 100 days – hard to believe – since the first case of COVID-19 in New Jersey was confirmed," Murphy said during his daily briefing with other state officials. "And in some ways it’s hard to believe that it’s been 100 days, and in other ways it’s hard to believe it’s only been 100 days, and it’s equally hard to fathom the impact this virus has had on our state, our communities, our economy, and frankly on our nation and the world."

So far, Atlantic County has reported 2,498 cases with 173 deaths and 1,209 cleared as recovered. Cape May has reported 665 cases with 435 designated off quarantine. The deaths of two women, ages 84 and 92, bring the county's total to 55. Cumberland County has reported 2,293 cases with 103 deaths.

Also during the briefing, Murphy announced the “One Jersey Pledge,” which Murphy called a pact that lays out that all residents share a responsibility to see the restart and recovery through.