By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

New Jersey health officials reported today that the number of COVID-19 cases in the state has risen to 11,124, including 140 deaths.

Bergen (1838), Essex (1086), Middlesex (808) and Monmouth (781) counties have reported the most cases in the state.

Today, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 111, directing health care facilities to report daily data concerning their capacity and supplies to the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (OEM). The health care facilities subject to this requirement shall include licensed acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospital systems, and emergency field treatment medical facilities, with OEM having the ability to make additions or clarifications to this list.  The data required to be submitted, such as bed capacity, ventilators, and PPE, shall be specified by OEM. This reporting will be required by 10 a.m. on a daily basis starting Sunday, March 29.

“Personal protective equipment for our frontline health care workers and first responders is critically important to fighting COVID-19,” said Governor Murphy.“We must work within our health care networks to ensure that we are properly disbursing the personal protective equipment we receive from the national stockpile and donations proactively. Today’s executive order will allow us to more efficiently and effectively manage the flow of personal protective equipment as hospitals begin expanding their capacities to meet the need of more COVID-19 patients, and allow us to have constantly up-to-date data on bed capacity throughout the State.”