California is sending New Jersey 100 much-needed ventilators as the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the state, officials announced Tuesday.

Gov. Phil Murphy tweeted that New Jersey is “beyond grateful” to California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state’s residents, and he vowed to “repay the favor” when the Golden State needs help.

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you,” Murphy wrote. “We will repay the favor when California needs it.”

California is sending 100 lifesaving ventilators to New Jersey.



We are beyond grateful to @GavinNewsom and the people of California.



From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We will repay the favor when California needs it. — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 7, 2020

California’s National Guard also flew 100 ventilators each to two other hard-hit states, Illinois and New York, on Tuesday.

New Jersey officials say more ventilators are needed as hospitals see an ever-growing surge in cases over the coming weeks.

The state, which has 9 million residents, now has at least 44,416 cases and at least 1,232 deaths, officials announced Tuesday. That’s more than any U.S. state but New York and more than all but eight countries.

Murphy said Monday that New Jersey could see its peak number of cases between April 19 and May 11, while the peak number of hospitalizations could come between April 10 and April 28. Officials said under a best-case scenario, the state’s total number of cases would peak at 86,000.

California, the most populous state in the nation, has more than 16,000 cases among its 40 million residents, including at least 397 deaths. But the state is expecting to hit its peak in mid-May, and its hospitals have been able to refurbish and procure new ventilators, allowing it to share some of its supply now, Newsom said.

Col. Patrick Callahan, superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, said the machines California sent come “with the understanding” that California is “probably going to be needing them" in about three weeks.

“We’re being hit now, but as this thing moves its way across, that return of the favor I think is what we will be in the position hopefully to do when we get to the other side of the curve," Callahan said during New Jersey’s daily coronavirus press briefing.

New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said there are 7,017 people hospitalized in the state either with COVID-19 or under investigation for having it. Of those, 1,651 are in critical care — and 94% of those are on ventilators, Persichilli said.

“I want to assure you our plans are moving in the direction to be able to accommodate those patients,” she said during the state’s daily coronavirus press briefing. “But we still need ventilators.”

Murphy has said President Donald Trump’s administration has agreed to send 1,350 of the 2,500 ventilators that New Jersey has asked for from the federal stockpile. But Persichilli has said the state could need 6,000 or so more. Officials said the state is also pursuing other avenues to find more machines, including buying some.

Meanwhile, New Jersey is working with the federal government to construct field hospitals to help handle the overflow of patients. The first one opened in Secaucus on Monday and a second is set to open Wednesday in Edison. A third is scheduled follow April 14 in Atlantic City.

But that, officials said, is only if New Jerseyans continue practicing social distancing. Murphy has put the state under near-lockdown to help, ordering residents to stay at home, banning social gatherings, closing schools, and mandating that non-essential businesses closed until further notice.

The governor has said the effects of the pandemic will likely “spill meaningfully into the summer.”

Officials said Monday the state has ordered 20 refrigerated trucks capable of storing 1,680 bodies to take the stress off morgues and funeral homes as the outbreak continues to claim lives.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether it’s a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters.