New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has declared a state of emergency to contain the spread of coronavirus after 11 people have tested positive for the disease and officials are expecting more cases.
Monday's order, which came two days after New York state did the same, makes New Jersey the ninth state to do so, reports the New York Post.
“We are acting based on the facts on the ground and by the latest medical science,” Murphy said in a video statement posted on his Twitter page. “We have been ahead of the curve in terms of our whole-of-government preparations and this declaration will help keep us there."
The governor's order means that “state agencies and departments to utilize state resources to assist affected communities responding to and recovering from COVID-19 cases,” according to a statement from his office. It also will "expedite the delivery of goods and services necessary for coronavirus preparedness and response efforts" and prohibit price gouging.
Murphy's announcement marks the first time a New Jersy governor has declared a public health emergency under the current state law, his communications director, Mahen Gunaratna, said in a statement, reports USA Today. The order will last for 30 days and can be extended after that if needed, he added.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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