By Matt Arco | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
New Jersey reported 344 new coronavirus cases and two new deaths Monday as the state’s rate of transmission increased for the tenth consecutive day and remains above the key benchmark that indicates the outbreak is growing.
Hospitalizations, however, hit a six-month low with 389 patients as of Sunday night at the state’s 71 hospitals, down significantly from a peak of more than 8,000 patients in mid-April.
The rate of transmission increased to 1.09 on Monday as schools throughout the state are poised to reopen this week with a mix of in-person, remote and hybrid learning plans.
New Jersey’s transmission rate has ticked up incrementally in recent days after declining for more than a week. It surpassed 1 one Friday for the first time since Aug. 21 and was reported at 1.06 on Sunday. Any number over 1 indicates that each new case is leading to at least one additional case and the outbreak is expanding.
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