N.J. reports 1,173 COVID cases, 10 deaths. Positive tests quadrupled in 1 month as delta variant takes hold. – NJ.com

New Jersey on Tuesday reported another 1,173 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 10 more confirmed deaths, while the number of statewide COVID-19 patients in hospitals grew again as the highly contagious delta variant of the virus continues to spread.

The Garden State’s seven-day average for newly confirmed COVID-19 cases increased to 977, more than quadruple the average a month ago and the highest seven-day average since May 8, when cases were steadily declining.

There were 576 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 or suspected cases across New Jersey’s 71 hospitals as of Monday night — 36 more than the previous night and the most since May 26. Hospitalizations have more than doubled in the last month, though remain well below the more than 3,000 patients at the height of the pandemic’s second wave in November and hospital officials say they have been able to handle the uptick so far.

Of those hospitalized Monday, 98 were in intensive care (three more than the night before), with 43 on ventilators (three more). There were 48 patients discharged.

New Jersey’s statewide transmission fell to 1.38, down from 1.43 the day before. But any number over 1 indicates that each new case is leading to more than one additional case and shows the state’s outbreak is expanding.

The statewide positivity rate for tests conducted on Thursday, the most recent day available, was 4.05%.

New Jersey is still recording daily coronavirus numbers well short of the pandemic’s peaks, with daily deaths continuously in the single digits. Tuesday marked the first time in 13 days the state reported 10 or more deaths in a single day. Officials say deaths have not increased significantly of late because the state has one of the nation’s highest vaccination rates.

Though vaccinated people can still catch the virus, officials stress vaccines are highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death, even against the delta variant. State officials said Monday that only 50 people in the state who were fully vaccinated have died due to COVID-19 as of July 19, while only 195 people of those fully vaccinated were hospitalized.

State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli also stressed Monday that increases in fatalities typically follow in the weeks following a surge in cases.

“As we see cases go up, it’s going to be really important to monitor the impact on deaths,” Persichilli said. “So far, we’ve been pretty low relatively speaking with the cases going up.”

The delta variant accounted for 84% of the state’s new cases in the most recent four-week sampling ending July 17. Officials say unvaccinated residents are driving the recent increases and remain the most at risk.

“My guess is this gets worse before it gets better,” Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday, though he noted both India and the United Kingdom have seen cases plummet recently after dealing with delta-fueled surges.

“God willing, that happens here sooner than later,” Murphy said. “But we are not there yet, for sure.”

On Tuesday, Bergen (135), Monmouth (131), and Middlesex (119) counties had the most newly confirmed cases in the state. All but one of New Jersey’s 21 counties — Warren — are currently seeing “high” or “substantial” transmission, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Murphy on Monday also announced the state will require all workers in certain state and private health-care centers and high-risk settings — including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and prisons — be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or be subject to repeated coronavirus testing.

Those facilities have until Sept. 7 to comply with the program. Employees that don’t get inoculated will be tested at least once or twice a week.

Across the Hudson River, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that people in New York City will have to show proof they are vaccinated against COVID-19 to participate in public indoor activities such as eating inside of restaurants, exercising at a gym, or attending a movie or play. The measure takes effect Aug. 16.

A spokeswoman for Murphy’s office, Alyana Alfaro, declined to comment Tuesday on whether New Jersey would follow suit, other than to tell NJ Advance Media: “Nothing to share on this.”

MORE: Could N.J. follow NYC with COVID vaccines requirements for indoor activities like restaurants, gyms?

The CDC has recommended all people, regardless of vaccination rates, to wear masks again indoors in public in parts of America with “high” or “substantial” transmission rates to fight the delta variant. In New Jersey, 20 counties currently qualify.

Murphy’s administration has said all people in New Jersey, regardless of vaccination status, are “strongly recommended” — but not mandated — to wear masks in indoor settings where there is “increased risk.”

More than 5.31 million people who live, work, or study in New Jersey have now been fully vaccinated since inoculations began, according to state data. There are more than 9 million residents in the state.

About 58% of of New Jersey’s population is inoculated, ranking seventh in country, compared to the 51% national average according to data from the CDC. But vaccinations have slowed in recent months, and about 4 million people in the state remain unvaccinated, including children under the age of 12, who are not yet eligible.

The vaccinations are on top of any natural immunity people may have because they caught COVID-19 and survived, though officials and experts say those residents should also get vaccinated.

The state does not break down how many of the new daily cases, hospitalizations and deaths are of vaccinated people. Asked why, officials said it’s because of a lag in reporting and confirmation. But Murphy said the state will soon release more information.

“I expect in a couple of weeks, we will have more specificity on all patients, vaxxed and unvaxxed,” Persichilli added.

New Jersey, an early coronavirus hotspot, has now reported 26,614 total COVID-19 deaths in nearly 17 months — 23,895 confirmed and 2,719 considered probable. That’s the most coronavirus deaths per capita in the U.S.

In all, the state of 9.2 million residents has reported 910,183 total confirmed cases out of more than 14.7 million tests since it announced its first case March 4, 2020. The state has also reported 132,289 positive antigen tests, which are considered probable cases.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

People 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 to 64 (22.3%), 18 to 29 (20%), 5 to 17 (10.1%), 65 to 79 (10%), 80 and older (4.3%) and 0 to 4 (2.2%), according to state data.

The virus has been more deadly for older residents, especially those with pre-existing conditions. Nearly half the state’s COVID-19 deaths have been among residents 80 and older (45.3%), followed by those 65 to 79 (33.6%), 50 to 64 (16.5%), 30 to 49 (4.1%), 18 to 29 (0.4%), 5 to 17 (0%) and 0 to 4 (0%).

At least 8,065 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.

As of Tuesday, there have been more than 199.16 million positive COVID-19 cases reported across the world, according to Johns Hopkins University, with more than 4.24 million people having died due to the virus. The U.S. has reported the most cases (more than 35.14 million) and deaths (more than 613,800) than any other nation.

More than 4.29 billion vaccines have been administered globally.

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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @johnsb01.