From NJ Spotlight New Jersey officials reported today an additional 1,261 confirmed cases of COVID-19, for a statewide cumulative total of 157,815. By counties, the most new positive results were reported in Essex (117), Bergen (92), Middlesex (84), Hudson (80), and Passaic (74).Total cases in the United States now stand at more than 1.7 million, four times the total number in Brazil, the nation with the next highest number, according to Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. Total COVID-19 deaths among New Jersey residents stand at 11,401, with an additional 66 confirmed fatalities reported today.The counties with the most deaths were Essex (1,628), Bergen (1,553), Hudson (1,161), Union (1,047) and Middlesex (968). Among states, the number of fatalities in New Jersey is second, behind only New York, where nearly 30,000 have died. Like this? Click to receive free EP Blog updates According to data reported by all 71 hospitals in the state, 2,797 patients were being treated for confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 as of last night, reflecting an increase.740 of the current patients were in critical or intensive care, the first day where that number fell below 750.564, or roughly 75% of those in critical care units, required ventilators. Regionally, 1,358 patients were in hospitals in the north, 802 in central Jersey and 637 in the south.    Of those in state hospitals, 365 were new patients as of yesterday, a 50% jump over the previous day, which was itself a significant increase over the day before.185 of the new patients were in northern hospitals, 112 in central Jersey and 65 in the south.287 COVID-19 patients were discharged, either to their homes or other care facilities, another significant overnight increase. The daily, or spot, positivity rate of COVID-19 tests on May 25 stood at 6% statewide. Results of more than 685,000 tests have now been reported to state officials, including negatives. Persichilli reported that the numbers of children between the ages of 1 and 18 with a rare and serious pediatric inflammatory ailment often referred to as Kawasaki disease had held steady. 26 cases of have been confirmed and 18 have tested positive for COVID-19.There have been no deaths from the syndrome reported in New Jersey. A total of 4,804 deaths among residents at 537 nursing homes and other long-term care centers in New Jersey have been laboratory confirmed as cases of COVID-19.LTCs in the state are reporting a cumulative total of 21,058 positive cases among residents, and 10,254 among staffers. They are also reporting the deaths of 104 staffers. Read the full story