The Governor’s Office today released the independent review of the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 910-page report was authored by the law firm Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads, under the leadership of former federal and state prosecutor Paul Zoubek, with assistance from the Boston Consulting Group.
Governor Murphy announced this review in November 2022, noting at the time that it would include, but not be limited to, the state of readiness in New Jersey for a pandemic in early 2020; prominent emergency policy decisions that were made by the New Jersey government; the pandemic response with respect to vulnerable residents, including members of congregate care settings; and the state government’s efforts to continue core functions, including providing direct services to residents. The review was also tasked with examining the management of public health aspects of the pandemic, including testing, vaccinations, personal protective equipment procurement and distribution, and coordination of the health care system and of health information around COVID-19.
The full 910-page report can be accessed here.
Said Murphy:
“I want to thank the teams at Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads and Boston Consulting Group, who, under the leadership of Paul Zoubek, issued a 910-page comprehensive and unflinching review of the State’s response to COVID-19. This pandemic, which took the lives of over 33,000 New Jersey residents and well over one million Americans, was the greatest crisis our State has ever faced. During this trying time, my responsibilities as Governor required that every effort be made to protect the health and safety of all 9.3 million New Jersey residents. As we emerged from the pandemic, my responsibilities similarly demanded that we as a State fully examine what worked and what didn’t work so that future administrations can be better prepared for a crisis of this magnitude.
“I am proud that New Jersey is the only state in the nation to have completed this type of independent and comprehensive review. The report both highlights numerous examples of New Jersey’s strong leadership during the crisis, and identifies gaps in preparedness and structural deficiencies that must be addressed.
“I know New Jersey will be better off because of this review, and my administration looks forward to working with the Legislature on its recommendations.”
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Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey recently announced the release of an independent review of the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The review, conducted by a team of experts in public health and emergency management, provides valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of New Jersey’s handling of the crisis.
One of the key findings of the review is that New Jersey was quick to implement strict public health measures, such as mask mandates and social distancing guidelines, which helped to slow the spread of the virus. The state also took proactive steps to increase testing capacity and secure personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.
However, the review also highlighted areas where New Jersey’s response fell short. One major issue was the state’s handling of outbreaks in nursing homes, which accounted for a significant portion of COVID-19 deaths in New Jersey. The review found that there were delays in implementing testing and infection control measures in these facilities, leading to unnecessary loss of life.
Another area of concern identified in the review was the lack of coordination between state and local governments in responding to the pandemic. This lack of communication and collaboration hindered efforts to effectively distribute resources and support to communities in need.
Governor Murphy has pledged to use the findings of the review to improve the state’s response to future public health crises. He has already taken steps to address some of the issues raised in the report, such as increasing funding for nursing homes and improving communication between state and local officials.
Overall, the independent review of New Jersey’s COVID-19 response provides a valuable roadmap for how the state can better prepare for and respond to future public health emergencies. By learning from past mistakes and building on successes, New Jersey can ensure that it is better equipped to protect the health and safety of its residents in the future.
