New Jersey Administrative Code › Title - EXECUTIVE ORDERS › Title 55 - CHRIS CHRISTIE › Section - Executive Order No. 102 (2020)

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 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:
a. The Department of Human Services;
b. The Department of Law & Public Safety;
c. The New Jersey State Police;
d. The Department of Education; and
e. The Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.