Medical staff in protective gear administer a test for COVID-19 at a drive-through testing center in Paramus, N.J., Friday, March 20, 2020. The coronavirus testing center opened Friday in Bergen County which has been the state’s hardest-hit area. Gov. Phil Murphy said only those with symptoms should get in line, and not those whom he called the “worried well,” people who are feeling well but are concerned they could be infected. The facility will have the capacity to conduct 2,500 tests a week, according to the governor. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New Jersey governor Phil Murphy announced on Thursday that the state would be commandeering masks, ventilators and other vital medical supplies in an effort to keep medical facilities stocked.

In his daily briefing, Murphy said the action was need to ensure healthcare facilities were able to keep up with the rising tide of virus cases.

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“While we look forward to these facilities cooperating with us and providing this equipment as needed, this order gives (police) the express authority to requisition it for distribution to our acute care hospitals and other healthcare facilities. And needless to say, they badly need the equipment.”

New Jersey has confirmed a huge spike in COVID-19 related deaths, surging from 182 to 537 in just 24 hours. On Thursday the total confirmed cases across the state stood at 25, 590. The New Jersey Health Department has been tracking numbers, with hotspots appearing in several counties.

If you have COVID-19 related symptoms or want to report virus-related health issues, the New Jersey Health Department asks that you call this number:

| NJ COVID-19 Info Hub | NJ Call 1-(800)-222-1222 or 211, Text NJCOVID to 898211