Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday assured state residents that any information collected by COVID-19 contact tracers will remain private and secure. This comes as the state continues to hire hundreds of people who will trace COVID-19 infections.

“In 100 days, our nation and our world have been turned upside down,” Murphy said. “It’s not a question of if the virus will come back. It will come back in some form or another and we have to be prepared for it.”

New Jersey currently has 900 contact tracers – most working for local health departments. But state officials say that more are needed.

“New contact tracers will be recruited and trained. Four thousand or more should we see the need,” the governor said.

Contact tracers will notify people who have been in contact with COVID-19 patients, urge people to get tested, help people find testing sites, urge people who were exposed to self-quarantine and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“New Jersey is a very diverse state and we need a pool of candidates to reflect the population they’ll be serving,” Murphy said.

The governor objected criticism that the state has taken too long to hire more contact tracers.

“We have 900 people in the field…we’re not opening the state up…I reject completely the premise of what took us so long,” he said.

While over 5,400 residents and staff in New Jersey’s nursing and long-term care facilities have died from the virus, thousands more have been isolated and have not been able to see their families. The New Jersey Department of Health says that it is trying to develop a plan to allow visitations.

“The disease in nursing homes is still there. So, we have to be extremely vigilant,” says Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. “This is something we struggle with. We understand both sides of the issue, but it’s not something we’re going to put out without a bit of thought.”

Those who are interested in the job can apply online and get to work after 15 hours of training.