• Governor Murphy Announces, “The Road Back: Restoring Economic Health Through Public Health”
• Governor Murphy’s Restart and Recovery Commission

Today, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced the guiding principles and benchmarks he will utilize to reopen the economy. The plan entitled “The Road Back: Restoring Economic Health Through Public Health” has six key principles.

Principle 1: Demonstrate Sustained Reductions in New COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations

• 14-day trend lines showing appreciable and sustained drop in new COVID-19 cases, and other metrics
• Hospitals stepping down from functioning under crisis standards of care

Principle 2: Expand Testing Capacity

• At least double current diagnostic capacity
• Prioritize testing for health care workers, essential personnel and vulnerable population
• Create flexible testing plan accessible to all residents
• Expand partnerships with institutions of higher education, private-sector labs, and the federal government
• Ensure those who test positive are linked to a health care provider

Principle 3: Implement Robust Contract Tracing

• Recruit and deploy and army of personnel who will identify and follow-up with contacts
• Leverage technological data and innovative solutions to increase efficiency
• Coordinate the approach of local and state health officials, which will have a coordinated county/regional component

Principle 4: Secure Safe Places and Resources for Isolation and Quarantine

• To the greatest extent possible, provide individuals who do test positive in the future with a safe and free place to isolate and protect others from COVID-19
• Ensure that quarantined contacts are provided support services, if needed

Principle 5: Execute a Responsible Economic Restart

• Create the Governor’s Restart and Recovery Commission to advise on the process and recommend responsible and equitable decisions
• Plan for a methodical and strategic return to work based on level of disease transmission risk and essential classification
• Continuation of social distancing measures, requirements for face coverings, and work-for-home directions where feasible and appropriate
• Leverage any available funds and programs to support health care, individual and small business recoveries

Principle 6: Ensure New Jersey’s Resiliency

• Learn from the lessons of COVID-19 and prepare for the possibility of a resurgence
• Ensure hospitals, health care systems, and other health delivery facilities have inventories of personal protective equipment and ventilators
• Build our own state personal protective equipment and ventilator stockpile

Click here to view a one-page summary of Governor Murphy’s plan to restore New Jersey’s economic health through public health.

Governor Murphy’s Restart and Recovery Commission: Governor Murphy said that he plans to announce members of the “Restart and Recovery Commission” on Tuesday. News reports from indicate that the Commission will be comprised of two groups, each made up of powerful and influential business leaders, and each with a specific mission.

The first group, made up of bout 15-20 thought leaders, will likely be co-chaired by Merk Chair and CEO Ken Frazier and former Princeton University President Shirley Tighman. Members of the commission may also include Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, former Homeland Security head Jeh Johnson, former acting CDC Director Dr. Richard Besser, incoming Rutgers University President Jonathan Jolloway, former Campbell Soup CEO Dennis Morrison and Prudential Financial Chair and CEO Charles Lowrey.

The second group, an advisory committee made up of industry-specific subcommittees, will likely be led by Choose New Jersey CEO Jose Lozano. The advisory committee is expected to have six sub-committees; infrastructure (including construction and real estate), professional services, small business (including retail and hospitality), STEM (including research, development and innovation), social services, tourism and entertainment.

“This roadmap is designed with one goal only – to restore the health, strength and well-being of the New Jersey for the long term. Until we give the public confidence that they should not be fearful, we cannot take further steps. A plan that is needlessly rushed is a plan that will needlessly fail,” said Murphy.