New Jersey Adds 5 COVID Deaths

New Jersey on Monday reported another 177 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and an additional five deaths on Memorial Day, the third day indoor masks and social distancing requirements are no longer required. That marks the first time in more than nine months the state has reported fewer than 200 cases and the first time since Nov. 8 the state has announced fewer than 10 deaths. Monday’s numbers bring the total confirmed cases in New Jersey to 887,699 and the total deaths to 26,213 in the nearly 15 months since the first case was reported on March 4, 2020.

This comes as more than 4 million people who live, work, or study in the state have now been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at New Jersey sites. That includes 91,545 out-of-state residents who were vaccinated in New Jersey. Another 167,642 New Jersey residents have been vaccinated in other states. The state has set a goal of having 70% of New Jersey’s 6.9 million adults vaccinated by the end of June. About 56% have been fully vaccinated so far, while kids as young as 12 are now eligible to receive shots. More than 230,000 children between the ages of 12 and 17 have been vaccinated in New Jersey.

More than 4.9 million people have received at least their first dose at a New Jersey site — about 53% of the state’s 9.2 million residents. For the first time since last March, bars, restaurants, retail stores, movie theaters, gyms, churches, and more can also operate at full capacity as the state ends its rule that they have to keep 6 feet of distance between patrons or groups. Businesses are still permitted to require staff or customers to wear masks, but it’s no longer a statewide rule. The changes came just ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, where crowds have already lined up at bars and restaurants for the holiday. 

While those who are unvaccinated are still strongly urged to wear masks in public settings, New Jersey’s shift to follow federal guidance on masks relies on the honor system, with no checks or verifications for vaccinations. New Jersey’s coronavirus numbers keep dropping steadily as vaccinations continue. The state’s seven-day average for new confirmed positive COVID-19 tests is now 324 — down 38% from a week ago and 82% from a month ago. There were 533 COVID-19 patients hospitalized across the state as of Sunday night, an uptick from the night before. Overall, hospitalizations for the virus are down 87% since New Jersey’s second-wave peak of 3,873 patients on Dec. 22. 

The statewide transmission rate held steady at 0.79 from for the second day. Any number under 1 indicates the outbreak is slowing and each new case is leading to less than one additional case. ew Jersey, an early coronavirus epicenter, has conducted 14.2 million PCR tests in the more than 15 months since the state reported its first case. There have also been 128,633 positive antigen tests during the outbreak. Those cases are considered probable, and health officials have warned that positive antigen tests could overlap with the confirmed PCR tests because they are sometimes given in tandem.

The state’s count of 26,207 deaths from complications related to COVID-19 include 23,542 confirmed deaths and 2,670 fatalities considered probable. The probable deaths, which are revised weekly, increased by 10 on Wednesday.
HOSPITALIZATIONS
There were 533 patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases across New Jersey’s hospitals as of Sunday night — 26 more than the previous night, according to state data. 

That included 119 in critical or intensive care (9 more than the night before), with 68 on ventilators (one more). 

There were 53 COVID-19 patients discharged Sunday. 

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