The number of deaths and cases from the coronavirus continues to rise in New Jersey as statewide positive tests hit 85,301 on Sunday, but the number of COVID-19 patients at the state hospitals has declined for the fourth consecutive day, according to a report from the state Department of Health.
Gov. Phil Murphy said Saturday the decrease in hospitalizations is one indication that gives health officials hope that the coronavirus outbreak curve shows signs of stabilizing after a month of stay-at-home orders and business closings.
Murphy announced Sunday deaths climbed to 4,202, while total coronavirus cases rose to 85,301, as 125 news deaths and 3,915 new positive tests were reported.
It’s difficult to get a complete picture of exactly how many people in New Jersey currently have COVID-19 because officials say testing has been backlogged up to 14 days. The state also is not reporting significant increases in daily testing, so it is unclear exactly how quickly the virus is spreading.
The latest report shows there were 7,495 patients hospitalized as of 10 p.m. Saturday, according to the state Department of Health. That’s down from a high of 8,293 patients on Tuesday, and a single-day decline of 264 people hospitalized. Between 10 p.m. Friday and 10 p.m. Saturday, 780 coronavirus patients were discharged from hospitals.
In addition to discharged patients, however, the number of people being treated in hospitals also declines as people die of COVID-19, state officials have acknowledged. Since the peak in hospitalizations on Tuesday, 1,397 have people died from COVID-19, according to state data.
Of those 7,495 patients hospitalized, 1,940 are in critical or intensive care and 1,628 are on ventilators.
Murphy said at his last briefing on the outbreak Saturday "we are flattening the curve” in the state.
“This is a credit to each and every one of you who has taken to heart our aggressive social distancing measures and who continues to do your part,” he said.
Murphy did not hold a daily coronavirus briefing on Sunday, as has been his practice in recent weeks.
The governor also warned “we’re not out of the woods” yet, and urged people to continue to adhere to his strict rules to limit the spread.
“Here’s the problem: The short connection between an abrupt change in human behavior and all those charts, graphs, and progress is shocking," Murphy said. “In other words, if we let our guard down right now, we would literally see it tomorrow."