New Jersey pushing tax, budget deadlines due to coronavirus

What is coronavirus?

From how it spreads to where it originated, here's a look at everything you need to know about the deadly contagion.

TRENTON, N.J. - New Jersey’s income tax deadline will move from April 15 to July 15 and the state budget deadline will move from June 30 to September 30 in response to the coronavirus outbreak, Gov. Phil Murphy and legislative leaders announced Wednesday.

“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused hardships, financial strain, and disruptions for many New Jerseyans and New Jersey businesses,” the leaders said.

FULL COVERAGE: CORONAVIRUS

Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin will move any necessary legislation and supplemental appropriations to get the state through the rest of the fiscal year, the leaders said. All three men are Democrats.

RELATED COVERAGE:

New Jersey reports 18,696 coronavirus cases; 267 deaths

Murphy calls ventilators New Jersey's biggest need to fight COVID-19

CDC’s ‘flatten the curve’ graphic shows why social distancing is necessary

How to spot the difference between the flu and coronavirus

(Patrick Sison/AP Photo)

The change in the income tax filing deadline mirrors what the federal government announced last month.

The details of the budget are unclear. Murphy had proposed a $40.9 billion spending plan that called for increased spending for schools, public pensions and New Jersey Transit, but the economic impact the virus will have on state finances looks dire given a sharp rise in unemployment claims.

New Jersey has been among the hardest hit states by the virus. New Jersey has about 19,000 positive cases and has seen 267 deaths, according to health officials.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.