Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration is citing a 2005 emergency powers law enacted after Hurricane Katrina to block some information about the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

 

The Associated Press and other news organizations around the state sought information under the state's open records law, but were denied because of the 2005 Public Health Powers Act, which says that reports and other records made during an emergency are not considered public.

VIRUS TRACKER: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut coronavirus cases and deaths 
MORE: LIVE BLOG - Coronavirus updates from the tri-state area and beyond
MORE: New Jersey Coronavirus Dashboard 
FULL COVERAGE: Coronavirus Pandemic

Some of the denied records include reports from hospitals on their supplies and capacity.

 

Such reports were required under an executive order signed by Gov. Murphy.