The news was not good on Friday during Governor Phil Murphy’s COVID-19 update. Murphy stated that he is concerned that New Jersey’s rate of coronavirus transmission is going up again and there are potential hot spots in the Garden State.
The Governor announced 202 additional positive cases of COVID-19, as well as 20 more deaths due to the virus.
New Jersey’s rate of transmission stood at 1.11 on Friday compared to last week’s number of 0.82. What does that mean? Well, each new case is resulting in just over one, new positive COVID case.
The Governor continued his call, basically a public plea, for people to maintain social distancing and wear masks when in public. He said the state must get the rate down so “we’re actively slowing the spread of the virus.” Until a vaccine is available, Murphy says that’s the only way to attack it.
During the daily press briefing yesterday, New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said the increase in the rate is connected to “parties held by younger people.”
The areas of the state seeing the increase in cases were not specifically identified by the Governor. This week, as an example, Manasquan reported 23 new coronavirus cases. That’s nearly double the municipality’s total since the outbreak began months ago.
Governor Murphy also pointed to outbreaks resulting from people traveling back to New Jersey from states listed as hot spots and not quarantining themselves for two weeks. Murphy also pointed to flare-ups at long-term care facilities.
COVID Act Now, a group of researchers that the Governor lists as a credible source of information regarding the tracking of the virus, lists nine counties where the rate of transmission has risen above one. Hudson County is on that list.
Ironically though, COVID Act Now also says New Jersey is only one of two states that is on the right path to controlling the virus.
Bottom line…now is not the time for people to become complacent. If we all use common sense, maybe, just maybe, we can defeat this virus sooner rather than later. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing?