NJ coronavirus: Deaths rise to 355, cases at 22,255

Here's the latest news on the spread of coronavirus in New Jersey. We will continue to update throughout the day as we learn more. 

How many coronavirus cases are there in NJ? 

As of April 1, there were 22,255 cases in the state with 3,649 additional cases announced Wednesday.

New Jersey has completed a total of 52,642 tests with 42% of the tests coming back positive as of Wednesday. 

Longterm care facilities are a big concern for New Jersey, state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said Wednesday. Of the 375 longterm care facilities in the state, 93 have confirmed at least one coronavirus case, Persichilli said. 

How many people have died of coronavirus complications in NJ?

There have been 355 deaths related to coronavirus in New Jersey. Officials reported 91 new deaths Wednesday in the following counties:

• Bergen (23)
• Essex (22)
• Hudson (13)
• Morris (5)
• Ocean (5)
• Union (5)
• Middlesex (4)
• Passaic (4)
• Monmouth (3)
• Sussex (3)
• Somerset (1)
• Warren (1)

Of the statewide deaths, 51% were male and 42% were female. One percent were less than 30 years of age, while 47% were over the age of 80 with 39% of that group documenting preexisting conditions. In addition, 21% of the individuals who died were associated with longterm care facilities. 

How much PPE does NJ have? 

Murphy tweeted Wednesday that New Jersey is getting another 350 ventilators from the national stockpile for a total of 850 additional ventilators. 

As of Tuesday, current statewide totals for personal protective equipment were:

• 280,466 N-95 masks
• 399,440 surgical masks
• 150,665 gloves
• 50,778 gowns
• 74,052 face shields

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Where are the coronavirus cases in NJ?

Below is a county-by-county breakdown of coronavirus cases in New Jersey. Get a town-by-town breakdown here. 

Here's what's happening in NJ today

Surge begins in North Jersey

The surge is here, state officials said Wednesday, and among the top concerns for the state are: 

• getting more ventilators
• adding more hospital beds
• access to medications used to sedate patients who require a ventilator
• securing refrigerated trucks to store bodies in case of a morgue shortage

Read the full story here. 

FAFSA deadline extended

The state has extended the deadline for college students to fill out their FAFSA forms to apply for state tuition aid renewal to June 1st. 

Update on NJ Transit coronavirus cases

With ridership down 90% and a fast-approaching, federally-mandated positive train control (PTC) deadline looming at the end of the year, NJ Transit has ramped up its software testing. Read more about it here.

Coronavirus in NJ

What restrictions has NJ put in place for social distancing?

Nearly all businesses are closed in the state except those offering essential services, including:

These essential businesses include:

• Hospitals, health care facilities and stores within the facilities
• Grocery stores and liquor stores
• Farmer's markets and farms that sell directly to customers
• Food banks
• Pharmacies
• Medical supply stores
• Gas stations and convenience stores
• Banks and other financial institutions
• Pet supply stores 
• Hardware and home improvement stores
• Laundromats and dry-cleaning services
• Mail and delivery stores
• Stores that principally sell supplies for children under 5 years old
• Physical therapy offices
• Mobile phone retail and repair shops
• Bicycle shops, but only to provide service and repair
• Livestock feed stores
• Nurseries and garden centers
• Farming equipment stores

The following businesses were added to the list on March 30:

• Gun shops
• Car dealerships can conduct online or remote sales, deliver vehicles directly to their customers and allow customers to pick them up
• Real estate agents can show homes to prospective buyers on a one-to-one basis or to immediate families

Restaurants and bars can offer takeout and delivery services only. Breweries must also close, but they can deliver to customers’ homes. 

All NJ residents have been asked to stay home except to do things like head to the grocery store, seek medical care, visit close family or someone you have a "close personal relationship" with like a romantic partner, report to work or go outside for exercise. And even then, residents should not leave their homes between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. 

Employees still required to go to work include law enforcement officers, firefighters, first responders, cashiers or store clerks, construction workers, utility workers, repair workers, warehouse workers, lab researchers, IT maintenance workers and janitorial and custodial staff. 

How can you get a coronavirus test in NJ?

Due to limited supplies, current state policy is to test “our most vulnerable individuals,” state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli has said.

That includes:

• Hospitalized patients suspected of having COVID-19.
• Symptomatic health care workers who have been exposed.
• Individuals who may be part of a cluster or outbreak, based on close-contact exposure. 
• Medically fragile individuals in communal settings.

If you do not have symptoms, you do not need to be tested. If you have mild symptoms, most facilities will not test you.

Here's a list of all of the coronavirus testing sites in New Jersey. 

What you need to know about coronavirus

How can I keep from getting sick?

The CDC recommends simple preventive steps, including:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

What should you do if you think you have coronavirus?

Don't run to the doctor's office – call first!

You should be prepared to answer questions about your symptoms, your travel history and your risk of exposure to the virus. This is called telephone triage, as the questioner assesses the urgency of your situation. Large health systems and hospitals have scripts for their staff to follow, listing the questions they should ask. 

“Anyone who calls in with symptoms of upper respiratory infection, we ask: ‘Do you have fever, chills, and have you traveled?’ ” said Dr. Kennedy Ganti, a primary care physician in Willingboro and a board member of the Medical Society of New Jersey.

How should I treat my illness?

• Stay at home and rest.
• Avoid close contact with people in your house so you won't make them sick.
• Drink plenty of water and other clear liquids to prevent dehydration.
• Treat fever and cough with medicines you can buy at the store.
• Seek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening (e.g., difficulty breathing).