New Jersey on Tuesday reported another 137 confirmed cases of the coronavirus — the lowest number since the first weeks of its outbreak in March 2020 — and an additional seven deaths as the state prepares to lift some of its last remaining COVID-19 restrictions.
This marks the second consecutive day the state has reported fewer than 200 positives and the fewest cases reported in one day since the state announced 89 on March 17. That was two weeks after the state reported its first confirmed case and when tests were scarce, meaning the outbreak was likely under-counted at the time.
In addition, Tuesday marks the second straight day the state has reported fewer than 10 deaths in one day — the first time that has happened since early November.
New Jersey, an early epicenter of the pandemic, has now reported 887,834 total cases out of more than 14.33 million tests in the nearly 15 months since the state announced its first case March 4, 2020.
The state of 9.2 million people has also reported 26,219 deaths from complications related to COVID-19 — 23,549 confirmed and 2,670 considered probable. That’s the most deaths per capita among U.S. states.
But all of New Jersey’s coronavirus numbers have dramatically improved in recent weeks as more people have become vaccinated.
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 91,000 out-of-state residents who were vaccinated in New Jersey. Another 167,000 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 this month. About 56% have been fully vaccinated so far. More than 232,000 children between the ages of 12 and 17 have also been vaccinated in New Jersey.
More than 4.9 million people have received at least their first dose at a New Jersey site — about 54% of the state’s 9.2 million residents.
The state’s seven-day average for new confirmed positive COVID-19 tests is now 272— down 42% from a week ago and 84% from a month ago.
There were 530 COVID-19 patients hospitalized across the state as of Sunday night. Overall, hospitalizations for the virus are down 86% since New Jersey’s second-wave peak of 3,873 patients on Dec. 22.
The statewide transmission rate dropped to 0.74, down from 0.79 the day before. Any number under 1 indicates the outbreak is slowing and each new case is leading to less than one additional case.
New Jersey has also reported 128,656 positive antigen tests during the pandemic. 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 took a number of big steps last week to lift coronavirus restrictions, including ending its indoor mask mandate and social distancing requirements — though unvaccinated people are still strongly encouraged to wear masks, while businesses can still require masks and social distancing.
Next, the state will remove all indoor gathering limits Friday, which will allow for full-capacity indoor concerts and sporting events. Plus, businesses not open to the public will be able to let their employees work maskless if they’ve been vaccinated starting that day.
Officials have said the accelerated reopening could lead to an increase in cases and hospitalizations, but the state will be able to manage it.
“We go into this anticipating we’re taking manageable risk,” Gov. Phil Murphy said last week. “That the risk is there, but it’s manageable. It’s within our ability to safely and responsibly take those steps. Especially to make sure we never go near overrunning our hospitals.”
CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage
HOSPITALIZATIONS
There were 530 patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases across New Jersey’s hospitals as of Monday night — four fewer than the previous night, according to state data.
That included 111 in critical or intensive care (eight fewer than the night before), with 66 on ventilators (two fewer).
There were 48 COVID-19 patients discharged Monday.
By comparison, hospitalizations peaked at more than 8,300 patients during the first wave of the pandemic in April 2020 and more than 3,800 during the second wave in December.
SCHOOL CASES
New Jersey has reported 281 in-school coronavirus outbreaks, which have resulted in 1,263 cases among students, teachers and school staff this academic year, according to state data.
The state defines school outbreaks as cases where contact tracers determined two or more students or school staff caught or transmitted COVID-19 in the classroom or during academic activities at school. Those numbers do not include students or staff believed to have been infected outside school or cases that can’t be confirmed as in-school outbreaks.
There are about 1.4 million public school students and teachers across the state, though teaching methods amid the outbreak have varied, with some schools teaching in-person, some using a hybrid format and others remaining all-remote.
Murphy has said his executive order allowing for virtual schooling in New Jersey during the pandemic will not be renewed beyond this academic year, which will officially end the option for virtual learning in the fall.
But the governor said students will likely still be required to wear masks when the next academic year begins.
AGE BREAKDOWN
Broken down by age, those 30 to 49 years old make up the largest percentage of New Jersey residents who have caught the virus (30.9%), followed by those 50-64 (22.4%), 18-29 (19.9%), 65-79 (10%), 5-17 (10.1%), 80 and older (4.4%) and 0-4 (2.1%).
On average, the virus has been more deadly for older residents, especially those with preexisting conditions. Nearly half the state’s COVID-19 deaths have been among residents 80 and older (45.5%), followed by those 65-79 (33.7%), 50-64 (16.3%), 30-49 (4.1%), 18-29 (0.4%), 5-17 (0%) and 0-4 (0%).
At least 8,054 of the state’s COVID-19 deaths have been among residents and staff members at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, according to state data.
There are active outbreaks at 132 facilities, resulting in 1,195 active cases among residents and 1,784 among staffers. Those numbers have slowed as vaccinations continue at the facilities.
GLOBAL NUMBERS
As of early Tuesday afternoon, there have been more than 170 million positive COVID-19 tests across the world, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University. More than 3.5 million people have died from coronavirus-related complications.
The U.S. has reported the most cases, at more than 33 million, and the most deaths, at more than 594,500.
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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com.
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