NJ’s Coronavirus Rate of Transmission Surpasses 1.0

By George N. Saliba, Managing Editor On Jul 6, 2020

For the first time in 10 weeks, New Jersey’s statewide coronavirus rate of transmission has surpassed 1.0 (at 1.03), meaning that each COVID-19 case is now leading to at least one other new case, Gov. Phil Murphy said at today’s state press conference.

Murphy described this as “an early warning sign that, quite frankly, we need to do more.”

Several of New Jersey’s COVID-19 current outbreaks have been linked to travel to out-of-state hotspots, Murphy added. For example, in Hoboken, of 13 new COVID-19 cases reported over the weekend, 12 are directly tied to New Jerseyans visiting out-of-state hotspots.

“We need to be smarter, and we need to work harder,” Murphy said. “Our 14-day self-quarantine advisory for those who have come through a known coronavirus hotspot is there for a reason: To prevent flare-ups like the ones we are now seeing.” He also repeated his calls for residents to get tested for coronavirus and wear face coverings.

“I want us to be able to deliberately and responsibly continue down our ‘Road Back’,” Murphy said of the state economic reopening plan. “I do not want to have to hit another pause on our restart because a small number of New Jerseyans are being irresponsible and spreading COVID-19 while the rest of us work hard to continue to stop it.”

The rate of transmission rise jeopardizes other, improving public health metrics, Murphy said; statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations decreased to 861, intensive care unit patients to 187, and ventilator use to 152. There were 216 new, confirmed cases of COVID-19 yesterday and 20 new fatalities.

Separately, NJ TRANSIT resumes full weekday service today, as summer camps, youth educational programs and and outdoor graduations also commence, today.

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