New Jersey officials declared a state of emergency Monday evening amid growing concerns about the spread of the coronavirus in the state, which now has 11 people who have tested positive.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in New Jersey rose to 11 on Monday. Officials also said 24 additional people in the Garden State are under investigation as potential infection cases by the state Department of Health.

"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,” Gov. Phil Murphy said 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,” the governor said.

BREAKING: I’m declaring a State of Emergency for New Jersey amid an outbreak of #COVID19.



We’ve been ahead of the curve in terms of our preparations, and this declaration will help keep us there.⁰⁰For more information, visit https://t.co/UyohzX5yGkhttps://t.co/ACoJrkLgJm pic.twitter.com/9gINlZKB1f — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 9, 2020

The state of emergency gives state authorities certain executive powers and safeguards for preparedness and response, the statement said.

In the neighboring state of New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread across parts of the United States, with more than 607 confirmed cases reported and 22 deaths as of Monday, according to public health agency data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

The outbreak has caused widespread anxiety — prompting officials to close some schools in New Jersey, sending global stock markets and oil prices plunging, and sparking restrictions on large public events, and prompting the U.S. State Department to advise people to avoid trips on cruise ships.

State officials have already warned school districts to begin preparing for long-term closures, and announced that home-instruction days will count towards the required 180-day school year. Several schools have already decided to close temporarily — some for facility cleaning and others for emergency planning.

Murphy appeared in a video shared on social media talking about the state of emergency declaration. It’s the first time he could be seen talking about the coronavirus since he underwent invasive surgery to remove a tumor on his kidney on March 4.

He’s currently recuperating at his Middletown home after he was discharged from a hospital on Saturday.

Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver has been heading press conferences for the administration while he’s recovering.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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

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