Reinforcing New Jersey’s efforts to improve its readiness for future health emergencies, the state’s Pandemic and Emergency Preparedness Task Force has launched a new website that tracks government progress in public health preparedness. The portal, available at nj.gov/health/preparedness, is designed to offer updates and resources as the state continues its response to ongoing and emerging threats.
“The COVID-19 pandemic brought enormous loss and hardship to our state, but it also revealed the resilience and ingenuity of our communities,” said Jeff Brown, Acting Commissioner of Health for New Jersey. “We owe it to the families who lost loved ones, the public health workers who gave everything they had, and all New Jersey residents to continue with those hard-won lessons. 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 interim 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 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 New Jersey residents with clarity, coordination, and preparedness when it matters most.”
New Jersey experienced significant impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic—including tens of thousands of deaths, millions falling ill, disproportionate effects on vulnerable populations, as well as disruptions in work and education. Despite these challenges, New Jersey mobilized a statewide response that resulted in vaccinating 4.7 million people within six months while modernizing government services.
Following 2020’s events under Governor Murphy’s administration, there has been an ongoing focus on learning from the pandemic so future administrations can benefit from preserved knowledge. To support this goal, New Jersey commissioned an Independent Review of its COVID-19 response—released in March 2024—which was noted as one of the first comprehensive post-action reviews by any state.
Afterward, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 356 establishing the Pandemic and Emergency Preparedness Task Force. Co-chaired by leaders from both the Department of Health and State Police since spring 2024, this group was charged with evaluating recommendations from that review while guiding their implementation.
As part of these initiatives:
– The state updated emergency plans including revisions to pandemic influenza protocols.
– Training exercises have been expanded alongside updated continuity-of-operation plans.
– Efforts continue toward strengthening public health systems addressing insurance coverage gaps; tackling racial/ethnic disparities; supporting age-friendly communities; improving care standards in congregate settings like long-term care facilities or group homes.
– Partnerships across agencies—and between government levels—are being maintained or expanded.
– Data infrastructure improvements include enhancements in disease surveillance systems.
– Strategic stockpiles ensure ready access to personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks or gloves; vaccination supplies remain available; wastewater surveillance has grown from eight pre-pandemic sites up to twenty-three statewide.
– Electronic Case Reporting (eCR) now transmits information directly between healthcare providers’ electronic records into public health databases.
– In April 2025 new rules were proposed by New Jersey Civil Service Commission supporting hybrid telework programs for employees.
These actions aim not only at maintaining current readiness but ensuring best practices learned during COVID-19 shape responses for any future crisis.
