NJ Hospitals Report No COVID-19 Deaths In 24 Hours

NEW JERSEY — There were several numbers unveiled during Gov. Phil Murphy’s coronavirus news briefing on Friday. But one stood out as a positive sign for New Jersey’s hospitals: Zero.

That’s how many people died from COVID-19 in the state’s hospitals during the 24-hour period ending Thursday at 10:30 p.m. It’s the first time New Jersey has seen that happen since March 10, Murphy said.

New Jersey’s beleaguered hospitals have seen other encouraging numbers since July 16, the governor said. They include:

• 7 percent drop in new hospitalizations

• 20 percent decrease in patients in the ICU

• 32 percent drop in patients on ventilators

“Overall, the trends in our hospitals continue to move our health care system in the right direction,” Murphy said.

But there was a grim side to the latest totals, too, the governor pointed out.

“Sadly, we must report 10 additional confirmed COVID-19 deaths, bringing our confirmed COVID-19 death total to 13,944,” Murphy stated.

Overall, New Jersey saw 699 new cases of the virus, pushing its cumulative total since March 4 to 181,660. There were a few other troubling statistics, Murphy added. They include:

• Spot positivity rate for tests from July 27 is 2.15 percent

• Rate of transmission has increased to 1.35

In particular, the rate of transmission is higher now than it's been in three months, when hospitalizations were at their peak.

“These numbers are setting off alarms,” Murphy said, blaming a lack of mask-wearing, negligent house parties and “overstuffed boats” as contributors to the new infection totals.

“The only way to silence these alarms is by taking this seriously,” he urged. “Wear a mask. Stop hosting house parties. Now.”

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Here’s some more information to be aware of as the coronavirus pandemic continues to unfold in New Jersey.

Murphy has warned that indoor parties may be responsible for an increase in coronavirus cases. Read more: Gov. Murphy Warns That NJ's Coronavirus Cases Are Rising Again

Now, most of the country should quarantine if they're coming to New Jersey amid the coronavirus crisis. Here's where. Read more: NJ Expands Coronavirus Travel Quarantine To 34 States

Here's what else you should know:

• Murphy has been releasing "hard dates" and more specifics on New Jersey's plans to reopen its economy, schools, daycare, summer camps and public transit during the coronavirus crisis. And he was expected to provide more details over the course of June and July. Read more: Gov. Murphy: 'Hard Dates' In NJ Coronavirus Reopening Blueprint

• Murphy has issued a list of rules and guidelines for reopening schools this fall amid the coronavirus outbreak. Read more: Gov. Murphy Issues NJ School Reopening Rules Amid Coronavirus

• New Jersey will provide a remote-learning option for schools amid the coronavirus outbreak. Read more: NJ To Offer Remote-Learning Option For Schools Amid Coronavirus

• New Jersey teachers, meanwhile, have developed what may be considered a strict set of possible ground rules for getting kids back to school in the fall. Read more: NJ Teachers Develop Possible Back-To-School Coronavirus Rules

• The rules haven't come without controversy. New Jersey's teachers union says it's just not plausible to open up on time in September amid the coronavirus crisis. Here's why. Read more: NJ Teachers Union: Not Safe To Open Schools On Time Amid COVID-19

• Murphy signed an order to require masks to be worn outside if social distancing is impossible. Read more: Gov. Murphy Orders NJ Masks Outside When Not Social Distancing

• Murphy extended the coronavirus outbreak's public health emergency to Aug. 7. Read more: Gov. Murphy Extends NJ's Coronavirus Public Health Emergency

• New Jersey is now reporting probable deaths as part of its regular updates amid the coronavirus crisis. Read more: NJ Now Reporting 'Probable' Coronavirus Death Toll

• Murphy and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo have issued new travel rules, saying travelers from high-infection rate states to New Jersey, New York and Connecticut "must quarantine" for 14 days. Here's what you have to do if you're coming to New Jersey. Read more: NJ Expands Travel Quarantine To 34 States Amid Coronavirus

• Many New Jersey towns rank surprisingly high on the coronavirus case list. Here are the latest town-by-town numbers, ranked highest to lowest. Read more: Latest Release, Ranking Of Town-By-Town NJ Coronavirus Cases, Fatalities

• Here are 10 resources for you and your family to utilize as you navigate through the outbreak: Unemployment, Tests, Food: 10 NJ Resources In Coronavirus Crisis

This article contains reporting by Tom Davis, Patch staff

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This article originally appeared on the Livingston Patch