Gov. Murphy's NJ Contact Tracing Plan For Containing Coronavirus

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy, speaking at a Wednesday news conference, outlined a contact tracing plan that he believes will effectively contain the coronavirus in New Jersey. He made the announcement as he revealed an additional 611 coronavirus cases and 74 more deaths (you can watch it here, below).

The update comes as the number of coronavirus cases has risen to 165,346, and 12,377 people have died. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

The role of contact tracing takes on a new urgency, Murphy said, noting that the coronavirus doesn't have a "proven defense" to prevent it.

Murphy said New Jersey now has 900 contact tracers, but the state expects to hire 1,600 more this month. He said he expects to eventually hire as many as 4,000 as the Garden State prepares for a potential second wave in the fall.

Murphy said the contact tracers will be deployed as more parts of New Jersey's economy open up. Here is a complete schedule: Gov. Murphy: 'Hard Dates' In NJ Coronavirus Reopening Blueprint

Here is how it will work:

• New Jersey will seek to identify people who have been in close contact with an infected person if they were within 6 feet for a period of 10 minutes or more.
• Contact tracers will then urge those who have been in contact to get tested and urge them to quarantine.
• The contact tracers will be trained at the Rutgers University School of Public Health and by local health departments.
• The training will focus on interview skills, which will be "central" to the job, Murphy said.
• The contact tracers will rely on three objectives: consent, transparency, security and limits.
• Murphy said names will be provided by someone who has tested positive, but there will be "no wild good chases" to identify people they were in contact with.
• He said he expects people will provide information because they'll be driven by the "common good" of containing the virus. They won't be ordered to do so.
• Tracers will ask for names and phone numbers and some other information. They won't ask for information on Social Security numbers, criminal backgrounds or immigration statuses.
• Murphy asked people not to confuse such calls with robocalls, saying: "Please answer the phone."

Murphy said he's creating a broad public awareness campaign to ensure residents know "the vital importance of testing and contact tracing."

Here is a timeline on how it will work:

Murphy outlined what information will be sought:

Murphy also outlined some key points on how the program will work:

This is a developing story. Patch will have more information as it comes in.

Watch Murphy here:

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.