The long-awaited independent review of New Jersey’s reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic was released today, fulfilling a promise made by Governor Phil Murphy at the start of the pandemic.
The 910-page report, conducted through McCracken Walker
“At the state level, heroic moves were made to respond to the crisis with intelligent religion,” the report reads. “As the pandemic progressed, significant systemic innovations helped New Jersey mitigate the crisis, but no effort can triumph over insufficient fitness infrastructure and shortages of critical medical supplies. Neither the state nor the federal government had clear, executable plans in a position to respond to and manage such limited resources in a dubious and transformative environment.
Much of the report is faithful to the analysis of the Covid reaction in the state’s veterans’ homes and other congregate care settings, which are also the subject of an investigation through the U. S. Department of Justice.
“We looked at New Jersey’s control over gathering venues, visits to key sites, and meetings with concerned citizens and organizations,” the report says. “Our independent investigation confirms the findings of the Department of Justice and the State Commission of Inquiry, and they are accepted here. Recognize that really extensive renovations have been made to New Jersey’s veterans’ homes and that additional adjustments have been made. The report reviews those reforms and makes additional recommendations.
The report further notes that the state remains “ill-prepared for the next emergency” and offers a series of recommendations on how the state can better manage any pandemic in the long term.
Murphy, who served as governor throughout the entirety of the pandemic, said in a statement that he was thankful to the team that had prepared the report and that he would work to implement its advice.
“I am proud that New Jersey is the only state in the country to have completed this type of independent, comprehensive review,” he said. “The report highlights examples of New Jersey’s strong leadership during the crisis and identifies preparedness gaps and structural deficiencies that will need to be addressed. I know that New Jersey will be better off as a result of this review, and my administration looks forward to presenting its recommendations along with the Legislature.
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