By Brent Johnson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Six months after it announced its first case, New Jersey — one of the nation’s earliest hard-hit areas — has now reported 15,978 confirmed and probable deaths attributed to the coronavirus and 193,422 known cases out of more than 2.96 million administered tests.
That’s after state officials on Friday reported seven more deaths and 478 new cases related to COVID-19.
In addition, the state’s rate of transmission increased to 1.03, jumping above the key mark of 1 for the first time in a week, indicating the outbreak is expanding again. It’s the seventh straight day the rate has risen.
But hospitalizations for the virus fell below 500 for the first time in three days.
Of the newly reported deaths, three occurred Sept. 2, one Aug. 29, and four in June that were just recently confirmed, officials said. Of the state’s total deaths, 14,195 are lab-confirmed and 1,783 are considered probable.
“Six months ago today — although it seems like 60 years ago — we received confirmation of our first case of coronavirus in New Jersey,” Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday during his latest coronavirus briefing in Trenton. “We’ve experienced a lot together over these past six months. And we still have a long road to travel.”
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