N.J. reports 288 new COVID-19 cases, 3 new deaths as hospitalizations again rise above 400 – NJ.com

The number of people hospitalized in New Jersey for the coronavirus again rose above 400 Sunday as the state reported 288 new cases and three deaths from the virus.

However, the rate of transmission remained below a key benchmark officials monitor to measure the spread of the virus.

Only one of the new confirmed deaths occurred this month — Aug. 15. The other two happened in May and July for a total of 14,117 lives lost since the pandemic began five months ago, not including another 1,829 probable deaths, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Sunday morning on Twitter.

The number of coronavirus patients in New Jersey’s 71 hospitals rose to 411. It had dipped to 376 Friday night, the lowest total since officials began publicly tracking it on March 24.

The previous low, 414, was reported Thursday night. It also marks the eighth consecutive day hospitals have had fewer than 500 patients with confirmed or suspected cases. On Sunday, 72 patients were in intensive care and 27 were on ventilators.

The state has recorded 189,494 cases since the outbreak hit the state.

New Jersey’s rate of transmission stayed below the key benchmark of 1 on Sunday, according to the Department of Health’s dashboard. Any number above 1 means each newly infected person is spreading the virus to at least one other person, on average.

The state reported the rate of transmission at 0.9 on Sunday. It was 0.99 on Saturday, 1.04 on Friday and 1.06 on Thursday.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

COUNTY-BY-COUNTY NUMBERS

  • Atlantic County: 3,673 cases (6 new), 238 confirmed deaths (14 probable)
  • Bergen County: 21,326 cases (28 new), 1,788 confirmed deaths (244 probable)
  • Burlington County: 6,274 cases (15 new), 442 confirmed deaths (40 probable)
  • Camden County: 8,961 cases (23 new), 530 confirmed deaths (54 probable)
  • Cape May County: 878 cases (4 new), 85 confirmed deaths (6 probable)
  • Cumberland County: 3,501 cases (9 new), 147 confirmed deaths (12 probable)
  • Essex County: 20,112 cases (22 new), 1,880 confirmed deaths (234 probable)
  • Gloucester County: 3,557 cases (12 new), 213 confirmed deaths (7 probable)
  • Hudson County: 20,042 cases (26 new), 1,344 confirmed deaths (166 probable)
  • Hunterdon County: 1,192 cases (2 new), 70 confirmed deaths (54 probable)
  • Mercer County: 8,264 cases (6 new), 585 confirmed deaths (39 probable)
  • Middlesex County: 18,275 cases (27 new), 1,214 confirmed deaths (206 probable)
  • Monmouth County: 10,589 cases (16 new), 764 confirmed deaths (96 probable)
  • Morris County: 7,411 cases (12 new), 683 confirmed deaths (147 probable)
  • Ocean County: 10,926 cases (18 new), 958 confirmed deaths (67 probable)
  • Passaic County: 18,173 cases (27 new), 1,099 confirmed deaths (147 probable)
  • Salem County: 954 cases (1 new), 82 confirmed deaths (6 probable)
  • Somerset County: 5,346 cases (5 new), 490 confirmed deaths (74 probable)
  • Sussex County: 1,362 cases (0 new), 161 confirmed deaths (37 probable)
  • Union County: 16,978 cases (11 new), 1,186 confirmed deaths (166 probable)
  • Warren County: 1,381 cases (16 new), 158 confirmed deaths (13 probable)

The Garden State has the second-highest pandemic-related death toll in the United States, and the virus has been disproportionately deadly for older people.

N.J. COVID-19 deaths as of 8/18

N.J. COVID-19 deaths as of 8/18

There have been 7,624 deaths of people 80 years or older, representing nearly 48% percent of total deaths, according to the state’s latest data by age. There were 5,013 (31.5%) deaths of people ages 65-79; 2,513 (or nearly 16%) of people 50-64; 699 (about 4.4%) of people 30-39; 63 deaths of people 18-29 and three deaths of people up to age 4.

Last week, when there were 188,817 total confirmed positive cases in the state, people ages 30-49 represented the largest percentage who tested positive, with 59,380 cases (or 31.4% of total positive tests), followed by those 50-64 with 51,225 (27%); 18-29 27,872 (nearly 15%); 65-79 25,785 (nearly 14%); 80 or older 18,013 (9.5%); 5-17 5,094 (nearly 3%) and 1,086 (.6%) for children 4 years or less.

N.J. COVID-19 positive cases as of 8/18

N.J. COVID-19 positive cases as of 8/18

The governor said Friday that some of the state’s 1,612 contract tracers have hit a brick wall in trying to track new hotspots.

He said more than half of the people who are contacted have refused to cooperate, describing it as “highly disturbing, to say the least.”

“Take the damn call,” the governor said bluntly Friday. “Again, I reiterate, our contact tracers only care about protecting public health — they care about protecting you and your family and friends.”

The governor has said tracers have hit resistance in the past, particularly when COVID-19 clusters broke out following house parties in the state that involved underage drinking. In those cases, officials found some of the teenagers’ parents were reluctant to volunteer information citing concerns people would get in trouble for underage drinking.

New Jersey remains in Stage 2 of its plan to gradually lift coronavirus restrictions that Murphy ordered in March to fight the spread of COVID-19. Gyms, movie theaters and indoor dining sections of bars and restaurants remain closed until further notice.

That’s even though the state’s economy continues to suffer during the pandemic. Nearly 1.5 million workers in the state have filed for unemployment benefits since mid-March.

Murphy has faced a wave of pressure to pull back more of the restrictions, but he’s been insistent that reopening indoor activity could have a boomerang effect on the outbreak.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.