New Jersey Administrative Code
Title - EXECUTIVE ORDERS
Title 55 - CHRIS CHRISTIE
Section - Executive Order No. 102 (2020)
Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 6, March 18, 2024
Governor Philip D. Murphy
Executive Order No. 102 (2020)
An Order to Create the Coronavirus Task Force
Issued: February 3, 2020.
Effective: February 3, 2020.
WHEREAS, the novel coronavirus identified as "2019-nCoV" ("the virus"), first discovered in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China ("China"), is a severe, potentially fatal respiratory illness that can result in pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, and multi-organ failure; and
WHEREAS, since the discovery of the virus in December 2019, more than 10,000 cases have been confirmed in China, with more than 100 additional cases confirmed across 22 other countries, including the United States; and
WHEREAS, the spread of the virus indicates that is it being transmitted through human-to-human contact; and
WHEREAS, outbreaks of the virus in the United States and in other countries across the world are being addressed through a combination of quarantining, medical monitoring, and community engagement; and
WHEREAS, the World Health Organization declared on January 30, 2020, that 2019-nCoV is a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern;" and
WHEREAS, in response to the outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that the virus presents a serious public health threat requiring enhanced entry screening at select airports in the United States, including Newark Liberty International in New Jersey, as well as others including Los Angeles International (California), San Francisco International (California), John F. Kennedy International (New York), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (Georgia), Honolulu [page=367] International (Hawai'i), Chicago's O'Hare International (Illinois), Seattle-Tacoma International (Washington), Dulles International Airport (Virginia), Detroit Metropolitan Airport (Michigan), and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (Texas), for travelers from China; and
WHEREAS, effective February 2, 2020, the United States Department of Homeland Security is regulating the travel of persons and aircraft to the United States to facilitate the orderly medical screening and, where appropriate, quarantine of individuals entering the United States who may have been exposed to the virus; and
WHEREAS, preparation for public health hazards such as 2019- nCoV must involve a coordinated effort across federal, state, county, and local governments, first responders, private organizations, and the entire healthcare industry in New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, the rapidly evolving outbreak of coronavirus requires State officials to continuously monitor developments in the United States and around the world in order to take necessary and appropriate actions to ensure that residents of New Jersey remain safe and secure; and
WHEREAS, as Governor, it is my duty and responsibility to protect the health and well-being of our residents by taking all necessary preparatory measures in response to the threats posed to the public health by the virus;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, PHILIP D. MURPHY, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
1. There is hereby created a "Coronavirus Task Force" ("CTF") that will report directly to the Office of the Governor.
2. The CTF shall be chaired by the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health ("DOH").
3. In addition to the DOH, the CTF shall consist of the Commissioners or other agency heads of the following Executive Branch departments and agencies, or their designees:
4. The Governor may, as determined to be appropriate, appoint additional members to the CTF. All members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation and at the pleasure of the Governor.
5. The CTF shall meet on an as-needed basis as determined by the Chairperson.
6. The CTF is charged with coordinating all State efforts to appropriately prepare for and respond to the public health hazard posed by the virus. The Task Force will coordinate with and, where necessary, call upon other departments and agencies, including representatives from the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Department of Transportation, and New Jersey Transit, and any other department, office, division, or agency deemed necessary for consultation and advice.
7. The CTF is empowered to create any special advisory panel necessary to develop and deploy the State's preparation and response to the virus, including medical professionals with knowledge and expertise in the areas of public health, medicine, infectious disease, and related areas.
8. The CTF shall coordinate the State's partnership with the Federal government and ensure effective communications and dissemination of information with all relevant State departments and agencies.
9. The CTF shall work with hospitals and other health care facilities to manage preparations for the possible treatment of patients demonstrating coronavirus symptoms or risks.
10. The CTF shall coordinate with local health departments to assess readiness for the management of patients demonstrating symptoms of the virus and to develop consistent protocols for monitoring and treatment.
11. The DOH shall provide staff to support the CTF. The Task Force shall be authorized to call upon any department, office, division, or agency of this State to supply it with any information, personnel, or other assistance necessary to discharge its duties under this Order.
12. Each department, office, division, and agency of this State is hereby required, to the extent not inconsistent with law, to cooperate fully with the CTF within the limits of its statutory authority and to furnish the CTF with such assistance on as timely a basis as is necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Order.
13. The CTF may consult with experts or other knowledgeable individuals in the public or private sector on any aspect of its mission.
14. The CTF shall be purely advisory in nature and shall periodically report to the Governor to provide specific recommendations related to this Order.
15. This Order shall take effect immediately.
