The Task Force on Pandemic and Emergency Preparedness in New Jersey has launched a new website to inform the public about the state’s efforts to improve its readiness for health emergencies. The site, located at nj.gov/health/preparedness, offers updates on how state agencies are working together to prepare for future health threats.
Acting New Jersey Health Commissioner Jeff Brown stated, “The COVID-19 pandemic brought tremendous loss and hardship to our state, but it also revealed the resilience and ingenuity of our communities. We owe it to the families who lost loved ones, to the public health and health care workers who gave everything they had, and to all New Jerseyans to carry those hard-earned lessons forward. The work of this task force is our promise that we will learn from this historic event, and the tracking website represents our commitment to transparency and accountability.”
Lieutenant Colonel David Sierotowicz, Acting State Director of Emergency Management and Acting Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, added, “The launch of this website reflects our commitment to transparency, coordination, and accountability as we strengthen our preparedness for future public health emergencies. By objectively reviewing the lessons learned from the COVID-19 response, we are better prepared to prevent, respond to, and recover from future public health threats. This effort is a testament to our responsibility to serve the residents of New Jersey with clarity, coordination, and readiness when it matters most.”
New Jersey experienced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis led to many deaths across the state and disrupted daily life for millions. In response, state agencies managed a large-scale vaccination campaign that reached 4.7 million people within six months.
Since 2020, Governor Murphy’s administration has focused on learning from these experiences. An Independent Review of New Jersey’s Response to COVID-19 was published in March 2024 as one of the first comprehensive after-action reviews by any U.S. state government.
Following this review’s release, Executive Order 356 established the Task Force on Pandemic and Emergency Preparedness. Co-chaired by leaders from both the Department of Health and State Police, this group evaluates recommendations from the review process and advises on their implementation.
Key areas addressed by ongoing initiatives include updating emergency plans for infectious diseases; revising regulations related to communicable diseases; training staff through updated continuity plans; improving equity in healthcare access; reforming practices in long-term care facilities; enhancing partnerships with other agencies; modernizing data systems; maintaining stockpiles of critical supplies such as personal protective equipment (PPE); expanding disease surveillance through wastewater monitoring; implementing electronic case reporting systems; supporting hybrid telework policies; and coordinating vaccine distribution across multiple departments.
Recent milestones highlighted by officials include an expanded Strategic State Stockpile ensuring PPE availability statewide. Wastewater surveillance now covers more sites than before—23 compared with eight pre-pandemic—to track transmission trends for several viruses including SARS-CoV-2 and influenza strains. Electronic Case Reporting allows automated transfer of case data from healthcare providers directly into public databases.
Additionally, interagency collaboration aims at minimizing disruptions in vaccine coverage while promoting clear messaging about vaccine safety.
The new website provides resources outlining these efforts as part of New Jersey’s ongoing strategy against current—and potential—public health emergencies.
