By Brent Johnson and Len Melisurgo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
New Jersey hit a grim milestone Friday afternoon, surpassing 100,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus as the pandemic continues to claim more lives and strain hospitals across the state. Officials announced the Garden State has now seen at least 102,196 positive tests and 5,617 COVID-19 deaths in less than two months.
The state reported another 3,047 positive tests and 253 corona-related fatalities in the last 24 hours, even as Gov. Phil Murphy continues to say data shows the rate of infection is slowing and hospitalizations are stabilizing after more than a month of tough lockdown restrictions.
“As we cross 100,000 cases, we must keep in mind tens of thousands of New Jerseyans who have tested positive and beaten COVID-19,” Murphy said during his afternoon press briefing.
Murphy said the state must remember those who have died. “Bless their hearts… They cannot and will not be forgotten,” he said. “For them, we will move forward and we will come out of this unequivocally stronger than ever before.”
The state has also been hit record unemployment and business losses, and Murphy has warned about mass public-worker layoffs looming.
New Jersey, a densely populated state of 9 million people, continues to have the second-most COVID-19 cases and deaths among American states, second only to neighboring New York.
Although the curve in coronavirus cases is flattening, Murphy noted several counties have “slid backwards,” with the number of days it takes for cases to double going back to seven days or less.
“We cannot let that happen,” the governor said. “Stay at home. Stay away from each other… I cannot be more clear or more plain. Everyone has a role to play in slowing the spread of COVID-19. We cannot ease one bit of our social distancing. … We need to see more progress and more slowing.”
As of 10 p.m. Thursday, 6,847 coronavirus patients were hospitalized in the state, officials said Friday afternoon. Of those, 1,933 were in critical care and 1,497 were on ventilators. Plus, 98 patients were at the state’s field medical stations.
New map shows the town-by-town breakdown of coronavirus cases across N.J.
Between 10 p.m. Wednesday and 10 p.m. Thursday, there were 385 new coronavirus patients admitted and 778 patients discharged. Murphy said the three-day average trend line in hospitalization numbers is “generally moving in right direction — down.”
State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said coronavirus case increases may not match up with numbers from the day before because officials are working to remove duplicate reports and “reconcile them.”
HELP FOR RENTERS
In addition to announcing the latest virus numbers Friday, Murphy said the state is taking more steps to help renters and homeowners who are struggling to make their monthly payments. Among those steps, he is signing an executive order allowing renters to use their security deposits to help pay their rents.
“Whether that be to make up for a shortfall or pay it in full, renters should have the ability to tap this deposit” during the pandemic, Murphy said.
The state is creating an FAQ section and question portal for tenants and landlords about rights and responsibilities, which can be found on this web page: covid19.nj.gov/forms/renter.
The state is also creating an information page on the website for homeowners taking advantage of mortgage forbearance. And Murphy is urging landlords to waive late fees and continue to work with tenants who cannot pay their rent.
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