The COVID-19 pandemic reached the U.S. state of New Jersey with the first confirmed case occurring in Bergen County on March 2, 2020, and testing positive on March 4. , 1.63 million cases were confirmed in the state, incurring 26,795 deaths.

On March 9, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency. A day later, schools and universities across the state began closing and switching classes to online instruction. Also on March 10, the first person in the state died from the disease.

A statewide curfew began on March 16, and all casinos, gyms, and movie theaters were closed; restaurants and bars were only allowed to remain open for delivery and takeout. On March 21, as the number of COVID-19 cases in the state surpassed 1,000, Governor Murphy announced a statewide stay-at-home order, requiring that all non-essential businesses be closed indefinitely by 9p.m. that day. In the following months, the stay-at-home order was gradually lifted, however other measures such as social distancing requirements, capacity limits, and requirements that people wear face masks remained in place for some time. Most of these restrictions were lifted by March 2022 when Murphy ended the state's public health emergency due to COVID-19.

As of May 12, 2021, New Jersey has the 9th highest number of confirmed cases in the United States, and the eleventh-highest number of confirmed cases per capita. It has the sixth-highest count of deaths related to the virus and the highest count per capita.

, New Jersey has administered 13,689,830 COVID-19 vaccine doses, and has fully vaccinated 6,482,698 people (equivalent to 72% of the population).

Timeline 2020 March March 2–10

On March 2, the eventual patient zero—a physician assistant who treated patients in several clinics in the New York City area—had a bad cough and heart palpitations, and went to an urgent care clinic where he tested negative for flu and strep (COVID-19 tests were not available at the clinic). The patient's symptoms prompted his doctor to tell him to go to the emergency room for a CT scan. While at the hospital the patient developed a fever, shortness of breath, and diarrhea. His CT scan revealed he had pneumonia, and shading in one lung gave doctors reason to believe he could have the coronavirus. On March 3, he was tested for COVID-19. On March 4, Governor Phil Murphy and Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver announced the state's first case of COVID-19, a presumptive positive test result in a man in his 30s who had been hospitalized in Bergen County since March 3.

On March 5, officials announced that they were investigating a second presumptive case of COVID-19. On March 6, officials announced a third presumptive case in Camden County and a fourth case in Bergen County. On March 8, two presumptive positive cases were confirmed in East Brunswick and Edison, bringing the total to six.

On March 10, state officials announced the first death in New Jersey to be in Bergen County. A resident of Little Ferry, 69-year-old John Brennan was the first to succumb to the virus in New Jersey. He had underlying health conditions and was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center where he died of a heart attack. It would come to light days later that the man was connected to cluster of coronavirus among a New Jersey family that would kill 4 family members.

March 11–17 On March 14, Governor Murphy announced on Twitter an additional 19 confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the cumulative total of confirmed cases to 69. A second death was reported on March 14 in Monmouth County: 56-year-old Rita Fusco-Jackson of Freehold died of the virus the prior evening after being treated at CentraState Medical Center. She was the first of four members of a family to die in what would become a cluster of nearly 10 cases that was spread among a single family.

On March 15, Governor Murphy announced via Twitter that another 31 cases had been confirmed in the state, bringing the cumulative total to 99 positive cases. On March 16, New Jersey officials reported 80 new positive cases of the coronavirus, bringing the cumulative total to 178 for the state, with three deaths."New Jersey Governor confirms 3rd coronavirus-related death" . 6abc.com. March 16, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020. On March 17, 89 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in New Jersey, bringing the state's total to 267. Among the 267 patients up to that point, about 55% were hospitalized. The patients' ages ranged from 5 to 93, with a median of 52.

March 18–24

On March 18, Governor Murphy announced that 160 more positive tests for the coronavirus had occurred, bringing New Jersey's total to 427. At that point, cases had been found in 18 of the state's 21 counties. The death toll rose to five, as two more people died.Lindy Washburn and Dustin Racioppi. "NJ reports two more coronavirus-related deaths as statewide cases spike to 427 Wednesday" . northjersey.com. March 18, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020. On March 19, Governor Murphy announced 315 new positive tests for the coronavirus, bringing the state's total to 742. Four more deaths raised the death toll to nine."9 total coronavirus deaths in New Jersey; personal care businesses to close" . 6abc.com. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.Washburn, Lindy. "NJ coronavirus deaths rise to 9, with statewide cases reaching 742 on Thursday" . northjersey.com. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020."New Coronavirus Cases in NJ Nearly Double, 4 More People Die" . nbcphiladelphia.com. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020. On March 20, New Jersey officials said that the number of coronavirus cases in the state rose to 890. Two more deaths were reported, bringing the state's total to 11.O'Neill, James M. "Coronavirus NJ: Murphy to announce more restrictions, closures Saturday as deaths reach 11" . northjersey.com. March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020."Coronavirus updates: More restrictions coming, N.J. cases jump to nearly 900. Here's what you need to know." . nj.com. March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

On March 21, New Jersey officials reported over 400 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the state's total to 1,327. Five more deaths brought the total to 16. By that point, the virus had been found in all 21 of New Jersey's counties.Michael Sol Warren. "Coronavirus updates: Murphy orders residents to stay home as New Jersey reaches 1,327 cases, 16 deaths" . nj.com. March 21, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2020. By March 23, 2,844 cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in the state. New Jersey had the second-most cases of all states in the country, behind only New York. The death toll in New Jersey increased to 27."New Jersey freezes nearly $1B in state spending because of COVID-19" . 6abc.com. March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020."Coronavirus updates: Bergen Community College testing site reaches capacity early again" . northjersey.com. March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020. On March 24, officials announced an increase to 3,675 cases of the coronavirus in New Jersey. The number of deaths rose by 17, to 44 total.Johnson, Brent. "N.J. coronavirus deaths increase to 44 with 3,675 total cases statewide. 846 new positive tests announced." . nj.com. March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020. A 50-year-old Freehold Township man was charged with terroristic threats, harassment, and obstruction after he coughed on a Wegmans supermarket clerk in Manalapan Township and laughingly declared he had the coronavirus.NJ man who coughed on Wegmans worker to face charges of terroristic threats, governor says By Louis Casiano, Fox News, March 24, 2020

March 25–31 On March 25, confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 4,402. The number of deaths rose by 18 to 62 total. All 94 residents of St. Joseph's Senior Home in Woodbridge Township were assumed to have coronavirus. The first of 24 positive cases was discovered on March 17, and at least one more had developed every day since then.Entire senior home in New Jersey, 94 people, presumed to have coronavirus By David K. Li, NBC News, March 25, 2020 On March 26, New Jersey officials announced that the number of coronavirus cases had increased to 6,876. The death toll went up by 19, to 81 in total. On March 27, state officials announced a total of 8,825 known cases of the coronavirus. The number of deaths increased by 27, to 108.Brent Johnson and Len Melisurgo. "N.J. coronavirus cases spike to 8,825 with 108 deaths. Officials announce 1,982 new positive tests, marking another big 24-hour surge." . nj.com. March 27, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2020. Police broke up a house party with 47 people crammed into a small apartment in Ewing Township. The organizer was charged.Police break up 'illegal' house party that violated N.J.'s stay-at-home order by Nicole Acevedo, NBC Today, March 28, 2020

On March 29, New Jersey announced that 13,386 cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in the state, including 161 deaths. New Jersey had the second-largest outbreak in the country, behind only New York. In a Twitter video, Governor Murphy said, "Nothing's changed in New Jersey, stay at home. New Jersey is part of the hottest spot in America right now, alongside New York City and the nation's eyes are upon us."Gomez, Jessie. "Coronavirus NJ: Positive cases over 13,000 with most in Bergen as deaths reach 161" . northjersey.com. March 29, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2020. According to the acting superintendent of New Jersey's state police, about 700 police officers in the state had tested positive for the coronavirus, but none had died."New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy asks for more ventilators as COVID-19 cases climb to more than 13,000 across state" . 6abc.com. March 29, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2020. On March 30, New Jersey announced that the total number of cases had risen to 16,636. The death toll increased by 37, to 198.Arco, Matt. "New Jersey coronavirus cases increase to 16,636 with 198 deaths. Officials announce 3,347 new positive tests." . nj.com. March 30, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2020. On March 31, Governor Murphy announced that there were 18,696 cases of the coronavirus in New Jersey. The death toll increased by 69, to 267.Johnson, Brent. "N.J. coronavirus deaths surge to 267 with 18,696 total cases. More than 2K new positive tests reported." . nj.com. March 31, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

In order to expand hospital capacities, on March 31, Commissioner Judith Persichilli issued a directive to nursing homes, post-acute care facilities and hospital discharge planners regarding the transfer of "medically stable" patients out of hospitals. The directive did not allow admission to post-acute care facilities to be denied on the basis of the COVID-19 status of a patient and prohibited the receiving facilities to require such testing prior to admission.

April April 1–7