By Matt Arco | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
New Jersey on Sunday reported 2,329 new cases of the coronavirus and another 20 deaths as the number of people hospitalized increased slightly after dropping for three consecutive days.
It was the lowest number of new cases reported in more than a month since Nov. 16, when there were 2,232 new COVID-19 positive tests.
There were 3,469 people throughout the state’s 71 hospitals Saturday night compared to 3,464 patients the previous evening. Hospitalizations hit a more than seven-month high on Dec. 22 with 3,873 people seeking treatment.
Murphy said during a television interview earlier in the week New Jersey “might be getting close” to the second wave plateauing, but he added the state’s models suggest “we’ve got another several weeks before we peak.”
He also suggested the state will be in a “dramatically different place” in four to six months.
“Without question, we know more,” Murphy said. “We have capacities. And most importantly, the vaccines have begun to hit New Jersey. It’s not gonna be a light switch, but it’s gonna get better. But I fear it gets worse before it gets better.”
Officials say the largest percentage of recent new cases — more than 60% — are a result of transmission in private settings and are coming from all over the state.
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