A good part of why NY and NJ failed big in the corona response is political hacks holding the Health Official posts in those states. They were there for LBGT promotion, racists ploys and other agnda.
People died — a lot.
This is true across the country. "Public Health" has become a euphemism for Social Justice. Gun control, free abortions, "underserved" communities, free school lunches and other crap. Public Health Departments across the country have absolutely no clue how to deal with epidemics because that hasn't been their primary mission for decades. Public Health Departments employ more Social Workers than MD's.