Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency and a public health emergency on Monday, effective immediately, to "contain the spread of COVID-19" as the number of coronavirus cases in the state grow.

“The State of New Jersey is committed to deploying every available resource, across all levels of government, to help respond to the spread of COVID-19 and keep our residents informed,” said Murphy in a statement.

“My administration will continue to work closely with our federal partners to ensure that local health agencies on the front lines of the state’s response are equipped with the resources needed to further prepare our health care system for a broader spread of COVID-19," Murphy said in a statement.

By declaring a state of emergency and a public health emergency, Murphy gives the state more flexibility to waive or suspend rules "which would be detrimental to the public welfare during this emergency," according to the order. It also helps increase access to resources such as health care and allows towns and counties to be reimbursed by the federal government for certain related costs.

It's the first time that a governor has declared a public health emergency under current state law, said Murphy's communications director, Mahen Gunaratna. That order lasts for 30 days and would have to be extended after that, if needed, he said.

New Jersey becomes the ninth state to declare an emergency because of coronavirus, which has affected more than 500 people in 34 states and the District of Columbia.

A general state of emergency order, which is often used for extreme weather situtations, does not have to be extended.

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Murphy's action is his first since returning to New Jersey after surgery to have a tumor removed from one of his kidney. It comes two days after New York declared a state of emergency in response to the coronavirus, though New Jersey's count of 11 presumed positive cases is much lower. New York has the nation's most presumed positive cases, at 142.

However, New Jersey's health commissioner, Judith Persichilli, said at a briefing Monday that "we do expect more cases."

A task force created by Murphy is expected to meet Tuesday to discuss "mitigation plans" to try containing the virus, such as school closures and self-quarantining if officials deem it warranted. Such plans could take shape in a number of ways, Persichilli said.

"You could have more mitigation in the north and not in the south," Persichilli said, speaking hypothetically. "It depends on the progression of the disease."