COVID-19 in New Jersey: The Governor’s Emergency Orders

As New Jersey enters the third year of managing the COVID-19 pandemic, the Center on the American Governor has looked back at the unprecedented number of State of Health Emergency Orders issued by Governor Phil Murphy.

While natural disasters are far from unique in the state and often engender gubernatorial emergency orders, the extensive use of this tool–and specifically the relatively new public health emergency power–beginning in March 2020 is one example of how the pandemic was different and more massive than any previous health emergency in New Jersey.

The timeline below is the result of a student work-study project. It was researched, designed and created by Rutgers Political Science student Tulsi Patel (’22). Our thanks to Tulsi and best of luck to her as she graduates!