Governor Phil Murphy declared the start of New Jersey’s Independent Review of the state’s handling of COVID-19 on Nov. 28, 2022. The pandemic has killed thousands in New Jersey alone, and this review will help the state reflect on the measures it has taken and can take in the future to protect its citizens. 

As Governor Murphy explained, “The COVID-19 pandemic was one of the biggest challenges our State – and nation — has ever faced… Throughout the pandemic, my responsibility as Governor demanded that I make every decision based on the available data, facts, and science in order to preserve the health and safety of all 9.3 million residents, regardless of politics. My responsibility as Governor also demands a full and comprehensive review of how the State was prepared for and responded to the pandemic so that we can take the steps to better prepare future administrations for a public health crisis.”

Hence, an objective team led by the outside Boston Consulting Group and previous First Assistant Attorney General for the State of New Jersey, Paul Zoubek, will identify what New Jersey has done in response to the health crisis and how it can improve for the future.

They will first look at New Jersey in early 2020 when the pandemic started and evaluate the emergency response efforts it took, particularly for vulnerable residents. The team will also evaluate how the state managed testing, vaccinations, and the distribution of protective equipment, such as masks, releasing a full comprehensive report later this year.

“While COVID-19 is still present in our state, nation, and world, we have moved from the pandemic to the endemic phase, and now is the right time to undertake such an independent review,” Governor Murphy stated. The pandemic is beginning to end and inspecting what worked and what didn’t is an important step toward ensuring the safety of the public in future health crises.