New Jersey health officials reported probable coronavirus deaths for the first time on Thursday bringing the statewide total to 14,872 fatalities with more than 170,000 positive tests since the outbreak began.
The updated death toll includes 1,854 deaths deemed likely from COVID-19, though not confirmed by a test. The state reported 26 new confirmed deaths, pushing the confirmed fatality number to 13,018. The state also reported 406 new positive tests.
“We’re not the only state which has been grappling with how best to draw a complete picture of COVID-19′s impacts,” Gov. Phil Murphy said during his coronavirus update in Trenton. “And, in one day, we are significantly adding to the already weighty toll this pandemic has had on our state, and on so many families. And, as I noted, we report this out of nothing else than a solemn sense of duty.”
The probable deaths fall into three categories: a fatality that involved a less specific coronavirus test, a review of death certificates and deaths during known outbreaks where a person had coronavirus symptoms, particularly in settings like long-term care facilities. The long-term care facilities accounted for just under one-third of the new probable deaths reported Thursday, according to Dr. Edward Lifshitz, medical director for the state Department of Health.
Roughly two-thirds came from reviewing death certificates, which Lifshitz said is the most time-consuming of the three categories. The state plans to provide updates on the probable deaths weekly going forward, Lifshitz said.
The news comes a day after Murphy joined New York and Connecticut officials in a travel advisory asking travelers from nine other states where cases have spiked are to observe a 14-day quarantine upon arrival.
While coronavirus cases are surging elsewhere in the country, New Jersey’s new cases have fallen significantly since peaking in April and remained relatively flat for weeks as testing has expanded. The state hit a one-day high in deaths, 468, on April 30 and a one-day high in new cases, 4,305, on April 3.
The number of coronavirus patients at New Jersey’s 71 hospitals also remains well below the peak of more than 8,000 in mid-April. There were 1,182 patients as of Wednesday night, down slightly after two days of increases that state officials said they were tracking closely.
Murphy, however, noted coronavirus transmission rate has increased in 16 of New Jersey’s 21 counties over the past week – with six counties rising at least 50%. The latest statewide transmission rate – meaning the number of new cases from each infection – has increased to .88, up from .70 earlier this month.
Hospitalization rates as of 6/24
Murphy has said the steady declines have given officials confidence with continuing Stage 2 of the state’s reopening plan. State education officials are expected to reveal on Friday how New Jersey’s 2,500 schools could reopen in the fall with restrictions.
The education plan follows a week of reopening news from Murphy’s administration. On Wednesday, bowling alleys, libraries, indoor arcades and museums were given the green light to reopen on July 2, the same day casinos, amusement parks and boardwalk rides can resume operations.
Murphy urged people to continue social distancing and get coronavirus tests.
“Everyone should go out and get tested,” Murphy said. “If you were at a crowded bar or restaurant, you should get tested. If you were at a protest, you should go get tested.”
The county-by-county number of cases and deaths include:
- Bergen County: 19,167 with 1,716 deaths
- Hudson County: 18,775 with 1,273 deaths
- Essex County: 18,637 with 1,774 deaths
- Passaic County: 16,819 with 1,025 deaths
- Middlesex County: 16,667 with 1,107 deaths
- Union County: 16,334 with 1,141 deaths
- Ocean County: 9,508 with 868 deaths
- Monmouth County: 9,030 with 704 deaths
- Mercer County: 7,595 with 535 deaths
- Camden County: 7,212 with 427 deaths
- Morris County: 6,685 with 643 deaths
- Burlington County: 5,084 with 376 deaths
- Somerset County: 4,828 with 443 deaths
- Cumberland County: 2,917 with 126 deaths
- Atlantic County: 2,787 with 192 deaths
- Gloucester County: 2,518 with 173 deaths
- Warren County: 1,224 with 144 deaths
- Sussex County: 1,183 with 154 deaths
- Hunterdon County: 1,065 with 67 deaths
- Salem County: 751 with 67 deaths
- Cape May County: 704 with 63 deaths
Another 706 cases are under investigation to determine where the person resides.
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Murphy also said Wednesday more than 230 new contact tracers are “currently being on-boarded” to supplement the between 800 and 900 tracers at local departments of health already in the field.
The governor has cited them as integral as the state reopens. The hope is they will be able to quickly identify and isolate future positive clusters, he said.
The coronavirus outbreak has now infected nearly 9.4 million people globally with more than 483,000 deaths, according to a tracker maintained by Johns Hopkins University and Medical Center. The United States has reported more than 122,000 deaths, the most of any country. New Jersey ranks second in the United States for deaths after New York.
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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.