Panel, Webinar
Part 1: A Conversation with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy
Milken InstitutePhil Murphy, Edward Greissing, Lynn Goldman, Judith Monroe, David Rhew, Alyssa Rieder
- New Jersey stockpile targets include 98 million personal protective equipment pieces and 2,600 ventilators by the end of the fall, with a state-based exchange launch scheduled for November 1st.
- Respiratory virus transmission is predicted to increase dramatically during fall and winter due to indoor occupancy, creating a "twin-demic" risk with influenza where a "second wave" could cause additional mortality despite a low probability of simultaneous peaks.
- The "new normal" is expected to persist for one to ten years, characterized by virtualized activities, continued social distancing habits, telehealth usage rates rising to an estimated 70% of interactions, and ongoing public awareness campaigns.
- Vaccine and therapeutics are anticipated soon, with a rollout described as complex and critical; success depends on public acceptance to overcome political bias concerns, requiring early confidence-building efforts.
- Future pandemic preparedness involves expectations for at least 40 new dangerous pathogens emerging since 1970, necessitating deeper federal investment in viral research, genomic sequencing infrastructure in Africa, and a modernized national public health backbone.
- Economic recovery requires a significant federal "jolt" and stronger support for unemployment insurance and small businesses, as state and local resources are deemed insufficient to prevent human suffering from under-correction.
- A digital divide affects approximately 157 million Americans lacking adequate broadband access, disproportionately impacting individuals of color and women, thereby hindering schooling, childcare, and basic needs.
- Public health infrastructure faces severe strain from a 16% per capita drop in state spending and an 18% drop in local spending since 2010, alongside the loss of 38,000 jobs since 2008, while healthcare workers suffer from low pay.
- Mental health and substance abuse crises are identified as serious concurrent issues, alongside a need to re-engage patients for non-essential care through trusted doctor interactions rather than administrator prompts.
- Healthcare systems like Common Spirit Health are optimizing resource mobility across states and expanding testing capacity, exemplified by facilities reaching 10,000 tests daily, while facing potential strain from non-portable skills in critical care nursing during future surges.
- Current mask adoption remains around 50%, requiring continued double-down efforts on compliance and education to lower community spread before opening businesses fully.
- Historical under-investment in public health and technology infrastructure, described as relying on "fax machines and pagers," necessitates urgent data modernization and strong data sharing standards to effectively identify and manage future health threats.