Gov. Murphy: NJ's COVID-19 Contact Tracing Runs Into Trouble

NEW JERSEY — Gov. Phil Murphy says New Jersey continues to have difficulty getting people to cooperate with contact tracers, with more than half of those infected or exposed to the coronavirus refusing to provide information.

Murphy, speaking during his Monday news conference, suggested that the lack of participation in providing information to contact tracers has slowed efforts to track the virus and ultimately quarantine people to reduce the spread.

The number of people refusing to participate is 58 percent, Murphy said. That's an increase over two months ago, in August, when it was 52 percent.

"C'mon, folks!" Murphy said, making an urgent plea to get people to cooperate.

"Again, I urge everyone to take the call and cooperate with our contact tracers," Murphy said. "Nobody is on a witch hunt, and nobody has any concern other than protecting your health, your family's health and your community's health."

New Jersey has enough contact tracers to help contain the coronavirus, Murphy said, and the state is better shape than it was in August.

Murphy said the state has around 300 more contact tracers than it had in August, currently deploying a total of 1,906. Murphy said New Jersey is able to follow up on more than two-thirds of cases reported. Within the first 24 hours, the state is able to follow up on 55 percent of the cases.

Murphy made the plea as New Jersey continues to show increases in cases and hospitalizations that the Garden State hasn't seen in five months (see list of daily cases below).

After months of daily cases falling in the 200-300 range, New Jersey had its ninth straight day of 1,000 or more new cases, the first time that has happened since May 14-22. Hospitalizations also approached 1,000 for the first time in at least two months, hitting 948.

North Jersey, which had largely contained the virus after the region was the epicenter of the outbreak in March, is now reporting the state's largest numbers of new cases each day. Bergen, Essex, Middlesex, Passaic and Union counties each had more than 110 new cases on Monday.

Murphy rolled out a preliminary vaccine plan Monday but said New Jersey needs to do its part before one is available. Right now, he said, it's not doing so. Read more: NJ Ramps Up For 'Equitable' COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

"We need to stop the rise of the curve and push these numbers down," Murphy said. "We will not throw up our hands in defeat and let this virus run rampant until that day" when vaccines are available.

Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said many people who have been infected or exposed to COVID-19 prefer to inform their contacts personally instead of sharing their information with a contact tracer.

"While that may seem like a nice gesture or a personal touch, it's hindering the overall contact tracing effort," she said.

Contact tracers provide expert information on how to protect people infected or exposed to the virus, and they help connect people to vital information and provide them with a safe place to isolate.

"Please help these professionals do their job and better protect New Jersey and give them the information they need on the individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19," she said.

Murphy also urged people to download the state's contact tracing app:

Here is a look at new coronavirus cases by day:

• October 27: 1,663

• October 26: 1,223

• October 25: 1,140

• October 24: 1,994

• October 23: 1,139

• October 22: 1,182

• October 21: 1,062

• October 20: 1,036

• October 19: 1,192

• October 18: 1,282

• October 17: 958

• October 16: 823

• October 15: 973

• October 14: 953

• October 13: 993

• October 12: 478

• October 11: 751

• October 10: 901

• October 9: 881

• October 8: 1,301

• October 7: 514

• October 6: 651

• October 5: 522

• October 4: 637

• October 3: 957

• October 2: 796

• October 1: 663

• September 30: 722

• September 29: 505

• September 28: 561

• September 27: 712

• September 26: 760

• September 25: 612

• September 24: 588

• September 23: 430

• September 22: 457

• September 21: 396

• September 20: 457

• September 19: 489

• September 18: 519

• September 17: 617

• September 16: 447

• September 15: 498

• September 14: 346

• September 13: 306

• September 12: 487

• September 11: 518

• September 10: 507

• September 9: 356

• September 8: 284

• September 7: 344

• September 6: 360

• September 5: 370

• September 4: 478

• September 3: 455

• September 2: 329

• September 1: 365

• August 31: 352

• August 30: 306

• August 29: 388

• August 28: 372

• August 27: 374

• August 26: 288

• August 25: 346

• August 24: 225

• August 23: 288

• August 22: 427

• August 21: 313

• August 20: 302

• August 19: 399

• August 18: 400

• August 17: 316

• August 16: 329

• August 15: 464

• August 14: 585

• August 13: 699

• August 12: 484

• August 11: 498

• August 10: 258

• August 9: 378

• August 8: 379

• August 7: 384

• August 6: 411

• August 5: 378

• August 4: 416

• August 3: 264

• August 2: 331

• August 1: 393

• July 31: 699

• July 30: 261

• July 29: 489

• July 28: 565

• July 27: 446

• July 26: 512

• July 25: 547

• July 24: 488

• July 23: 344

• July 22: 390

• July 21: 424

• July 20: 177

• July 19: 144

• July 18: 309

• July 17: 202

• July 16: 254

• July 15: 396

• July 14: 423

• July 13: 231

• July 12: 349

• July 11: 438

• July 10: 367

• July 9: 354

• July 8: 335

• July 7: 310

• July 6: 216

• July 5: 398

• July 4: 303

• July 3: 386

• July 2: 539

• July 1: 423

• June 30: 461

• June 29: 156

• June 28: 354

• June 27: 347

• June 26: 524

• June 25: 406

• June 24: 317

• June 23: 382

• June 22: 359

• June 21: 411

• June 20: 446

• June 19: 516

• June 18: 442

• June 17: 330

• June 16: 470

• June 15: 274

• June 14: 305

• June 13: 523

• June 12: 495

• June 11: 539

• June 10: 611

• June 9: 375

• June 8: 356

• June 7: 426

• June 6: 606

• June 5: 864

• June 4: 603

• June 3: 652

• June 2: 708

• June 1: 509

• May 31: 868

• May 30: 910

• May 29: 1,117

• May 28: 1,261

• May 27: 970

• May 26: 703

• May 25: 965

• May 24: 1,065

• May 23: 443

• May 22: 1,394

• May 21: 1,304

• May 20: 1,670

• May 19: 1,055

• May 18: 1,735

• May 17: 1,272

• May 16: 1,239

• May 15: 1,297

• May 14: 1,216

• May 13: 1,028

• May 12: 898

• May 11: 1,453

• May 10: 1,503

• May 9: 1,759

• May 8: 1,985

• May 7: 1,827

• May 6: 1,513

• May 5: 2,494

• May 4: 1,621

• May 3: 3,144

• May 2: 2,912

• May 1: 2,651

• April 30: 2,633

• April 29: 2,481

• April 28: 2,887

• April 27: 2,146

• April 26: 3,730

• April 25: 3,457

• April 24: 3,047

• April 23: 4,427

• April 22: 3,551

• April 21: 3,644

• April 20: 3,528

• April 19: 3,915

• April 18: 3,026

• April 17: 3,250

• April 16: 4,391

• April 15: 2,625

• April 14: 4,049

• April 13: 3,219

• April 12: 3,733

• April 11: 3,599

• April 10: 3,627

• April 9: 3,748

• April 8: 3,088

• April 7: 3,361

• April 6: 3,663

• April 5: 3,482

• April 4: 4,331

• April 3: 4,372

• April 2: 3,489

• April 1: 3,649

• March 31: 2,196

• March 30: 3,347

• March 29: 2,316

• March 28: 2,289

• March 27: 1,982

• March 26: 2,492

• March 25: 736

• March 24: 846

• March 23: 935

• March 22: 590

• March 21: 442

• March 20: 155

• March 19: 318

• March 18: 162

• March 17: 89

• March 16: 80

• March 15: 31

• March 14: 19

• March 13: 21

• March 12: 21

• March 11: 8

• March 10: 4

• March 9: 5

• March 8: 6

• March 7: 1

• March 6: 1

• March 5: 1

• March 4: 1

Here is a look at coronavirus deaths by day:

• October 27: 14

• October 26: 7

• October 25: 4

• October 24: 8

• October 23: 11

• October 22: 18

• October 21: 18

• October 20: 13

• October 19: 4

• October 18: 7

• October 17: 2

• October 16: 5

• October 15: 6

• October 14: 9

• October 13: 7

• October 12: 1

• October 11: 3

• October 10: 7

• October 9: 6

• October 8: 11

• October 7: 4

• October 6: 9

• October 5: 2

• October 4: 1

• October 3: 4

• October 2: 4

• October 1: 5

• September 30: 9

• September 29: 10

• September 28: 1

• September 27: 3

• September 26: 6

• September 25: 7

• September 24: 10

• September 23: 7

• September 22: 7

• September 21: 2

• September 20: 3

• September 19: 3

• September 18: 5

• September 17: 3

• September 16: 9

• September 15: 9

• September 14: 3

• September 13: 4

• September 12: 4

• September 11: 9

• September 10: 5

• September 9: 7

• September 8: 5

• September 7: 2

• September 6: 4

• September 5: 7

• September 4: 7

• September 3: 9

• September 2: 11

• September 1: 7

• August 31: 8

• August 30: 4

• August 29: 4

• August 28: 9

• August 27: 7

• August 26: 11

• August 25: 5

• August 24: 3

• August 23: 3

• August 22: 3

• August 21: 13

• August 20: 8

• August 19: 11

• August 18: 10

• August 17: 4

• August 16: 4

• August 15: 7

• August 14: 10

• August 13: 8

• August 12: 9

• August 11: 14

• August 10: 4

• August 9: 5

• August 8: 9

• August 7: 12

• August 6: 8

• August 5: 8

• August 4: 11

• August 3: 10

• August 2: 6

• August 1: 11

• July 31: 10

• July 30: 16

• July 29: 18

• July 28: 24

• July 27: 17

• July 26: 11

• July 25: 16

• July 24: 36

• July 23: 23

• July 22: 24

• July 21: 21

• July 20: 9

• July 19: 11

• July 18: 16

• July 17: 20

• July 16: 32

• July 15: 27

• July 14: 28

• July 13: 22

• July 12: 16

• July 11: 49

• July 10: 31

• July 9: 28

• July 8: 53

• July 7: 52

• July 6: 20

• July 5: 23

• July 4: 25

• July 3: 58

• July 2: 27

• July 1: 45

• June 30: 47

• June 29: 18

• June 28: 30

• June 27: 36

• June 26: 44

• June 25: 26

• June 24: 48

• June 23: 57

• June 22: 27

• June 21: 17

• June 20: 25

• June 19: 37

• June 18: 38

• June 17: 47

• June 16: 51

• June 15: 52

• June 14: 40

• June 13: 103

• June 12: 48

• June 11: 70

• June 10: 74

• June 9: 91

• June 8: 40

• June 7: 79

• June 6: 60

• June 5: 79

• June 4: 92

• June 3: 112

• June 2: 51

• June 1: 27

• May 31: 66

• May 30: 113

• May 29: 131

• May 28: 66

• May 27: 148

• May 26: 54

• May 25: 16

• May 24: 52

• May 23: 96

• May 22: 146

• May 21: 98

• May 20: 168

• May 19: 162

• May 18: 83

• May 17: 107

• May 16: 116

• May 15: 201

• May 14: 244

• May 13: 197

• May 12: 198

• May 11: 59

• May 10: 140

• May 9: 166

• May 8: 162

• May 7: 254

• May 6: 308

• May 5: 334

• May 4: 45

• May 3: 137

• May 2: 205

• May 1: 311

• April 30: 460

• April 29: 329

• April 28: 402

• April 27: 106

• April 26: 75

• April 25: 249

• April 24: 253

• April 23: 307

• April 22: 314

• April 21: 379

• April 20: 177

• April 19: 132

• April 18: 231

• April 17: 323

• April 16: 362

• April 15: 351

• April 14: 365

• April 13: 94

• April 12: 168

• April 11: 251

• April 10: 233

• April 9: 198

• April 8: 275

• April 7: 232

• April 6: 86

• April 5: 71

• April 4: 200

• April 3: 113

• April 2: 182

• April 1: 91

• March 31: 69

• March 30: 37

• March 29: 21

• March 28: 32

• March 27: 27

• March 26: 19

• March 25: 18

• March 24: 17

• March 23: 7

• March 22: 4

• March 21: 5

• March 20: 2

• March 19: 4

• March 18: 3

• March 17: 0

• March 16: 1

• March 15: 0

• March 14: 1

• March 13: 0

• March 12: 0

• March 11: 0

• March 10: 1

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This article originally appeared on the Asbury Park Patch