N.J. coronavirus deaths rise to 11,721 with 160,918 total cases. As new cases decline, more reopening planned. – NJ.com

The death toll from the coronavirus in New Jersey rose to 11,721 known fatalities on Monday with at least 160,918 total cases, though the outbreak has slowed considerably and led Gov. Phil Murphy to unveil steps to reopen from his near-lockdown orders.

State officials reported 27 new deaths and 509 new positive cases in the last 24 hours in New Jersey, a state of 9 million residents and home to the second-most deaths and cases among U.S. states. The daily reporting of coronavirus statistics, however, has been subject to a lag over the weekend and Murphy’s administration has focused on overall trends as the state starts to reopen.

Coronavirus hospitalizations, new deaths, and new cases have steadily dropped in recent weeks, while the number of daily tests being administered has increased to Murphy’s goal of at least 20,000 per day. More than 795,000 tests have been administered in the state.

Murphy is expected to announce Monday that New Jersey is entering “Stage 2” of its multi-phase reopening plan, allowing outdoor dining to begin June 15 and hair salons and nonessential retail to soon reopen, with restrictions.

New Jersey hit a one-day high in deaths — 460 — on April 30 and a one-day high in new cases — 4,391 — on April 16. The peak in hospitalizations occurred on April 14 with more than 8,000 patients in New Jersey’s 71 hospitals. There were 2,344 patients reported as of 10 p.m. Sunday, though data was missing for one hospital.

The county-by-county cases and deaths include:

  • Hudson County: 18,428 with 1,182 deaths
  • Bergen County: 18,302 with 1,580 deaths
  • Essex County: 17,695 with 1,667 deaths
  • Passaic County: 16,200 with 929 deaths
  • Middlesex County: 15,977 with 996 deaths
  • Union County: 15,858 with 1074 deaths
  • Ocean County: 8,770 with 740 deaths
  • Monmouth County: 8,249 with 599 deaths
  • Mercer County:  6,961 with 475 deaths
  • Camden County: 6,543 with 338 deaths
  • Morris County: 6,506 with 616 deaths
  • Burlington County: 4,657 with 294 deaths
  • Somerset County: 4,595 with 419 deaths
  • Cumberland County: 2,310 with 75 deaths
  • Gloucester County: 2,245 with 148 deaths
  • Atlantic County: 2,222 with 159 deaths
  • Warren County: 1,165 with 132 deaths
  • Sussex County: 1,114 with 148 deaths
  • Hunterdon County: 996 with 60 deaths
  • Salem County: 639 with 41 deaths
  • Cape May County: 623 with 49 deaths

Another 863 cases remain under investigation to determine where the person resides.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

The total number of coronavirus cases in New Jersey is cumulative and does not reflect the likely thousands of residents who have recovered. There may also be infected residents who have yet to be tested.

Murphy has already allowed parks, beaches, boardwalks, and lakes in New Jersey to reopen. He increased the limit on outdoor gatherings to 25. (Indoor gatherings remain capped at 10.)

The governor announced Friday that child daycare centers in New Jersey can reopen June 15, outdoor, non-contact organized sports can resume June 22, and youth day camps can operate beginning July 6, all with restrictions. The governor also said live horse racing can return, without fans, as early as this weekend. And he said the state is hoping to allow larger indoor gatherings, including those at churches and other houses of worship, by the weekend of June 12.

As the state’s economy craters during the pandemic, numerous lawmakers, businesses, and residents have called on Murphy to move more swiftly on reopening the state.

The governor has also been criticized for not providing more details on the data he’s using to make his decisions. Murphy has said the goal is to try to save as many lives as possible.

More than 1.1 million New Jersey residents have filed for unemployment since aggressive social distancing started in mid-March, causing the state’s unemployment rate to surge to 15.3%, though the number of new claims has fallen in recent weeks. Many say they’ve been waiting for weeks to get paid and have struggled with the state’s busy phone and online systems.

Murphy’s administration has said it plans to cut $1.3 billion in state spending thanks to plummeting tax revenue. The governor has warned of up to 200,000 public-worker layoffs if the federal government doesn’t provide more direct aid to states.

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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com.