Phil Murphy at a coronavirus briefing. | Pool Photos by Kevin Sanders/New Jesey Globe
Gov. Phil Murphy said Thursday that 120 members of the New Jersey National Guard will be deployed to help out at the state’s long-term health care facilities, which have been overwhelmed by the coronavirus.
Of the 8,801 coronavirus-related deaths that have been reported statewide since early March, 4,505 have been at long-term care facilities. Overall, nearly 25,000 cases of Covid-19 have been reported at those sites.
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“We don’t take this step lightly, but we take it knowing that the crisis in our long-term care facilities requires us to take it,” Murphy said during his daily briefing in Trenton.
It’s not clear where all the guard members will be deployed. However, Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said 22 will be sent to the Andover Subacute and Rehab Center II in Sussex County, which has seen numerous deaths from the virus. The facility made headlines last month when 17 bodies were found stored in a makeshift morgue.
Persichilli said members of the Guard will be handling “non-clinical” duties, such as nurses aide assistance, janitorial duties, culinary services and logistics work.
Last month, the governor deployed 75 National Guard medics to state-run veterans homes in Menlo Park and Paramus that combined have seen more than 100 deaths.
On Wednesday, Murphy announced that the state has hired a team of nationally experienced public health experts to issue recommendations to reform New Jersey’s long-term care facilities, making good on a promise to enact sweeping changes to how those facilities are regulated.
The team will conduct a two- to three-week review to address immediate concerns related to protecting long-term care facility residents and staff. It will also advise on potential state or federal action to improve quality, safety and resilience within the system.
State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal is conducting an investigation into allegations of alleged misconduct across the industry. The state has also launched an online portal for residents to anonymously report malfeasance at long-term care facilities.
Meanwhile, Murphy announced 1,827 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, bringing the statewide total to 133,635 since New Jersey’s first positive test was reported in early March. The statewide death total grew by 254, to 8,801.
In addition, 4,996 people remain hospitalized for the virus — down from a peak of more than 8,200 three weeks ago. Murphy called the number a “milestone.” Of those who remain hospitalized, 1,470 are in critical or intensive care units and 1,107 are on ventilators. The number of ICU patients is the lowest since April 4, the governor said.
“Overall, the numbers in our hospitals continue moving in the right direction," Murphy said before quickly adding that “we are still in the midst of a public health emergency.”
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Murphy deploys 120 National Guard troops to New Jersey's long-term care facilities - POLITICO
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