Coronavirus New Jersey: State Experiencing Slower Rate Of Spread As Cases Climb Over 64,000
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) — New Jersey is experiencing a slower rate of the spread of the coronavirus, but cases are still rising. Gov. Phil Murphy reminded residents Monday afternoon that staying home remains the best defense in winning the war against the coronavirus.
With 2,400 new cases of COVID-19 and over 90 new deaths on Monday, the crisis is still growing but undeniably slowing.
Health officials announced 2,734 new COVID-19 cases, raising the statewide total to 64,584 cases in the state. Ninety-three more people also died from the virus, as the death toll now stands at 2,443.
"To put that in perspective, that is more than the number of New Jerseyans who gave their lives in the combination of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, to give you some sense of the staggering toll of the loss of life," Murphy said during a press conference on Monday.
Murphy reiterated that social distancing must continue in the Garden State to flatten the curve.
"Our jobs right now collectively first and foremost is to put the fire out in the house and we are still not there yet."
Meanwhile, Murphy announced he and the governors of New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Delaware have formed a regional council.
Each state will send three representatives with expertise on health, economics and government procedures to formulate a data-based strategy for restoring life after our first bout with COVID-19.
What they don't want is for all our social distancing efforts to be for naught by doing too much, too soon.
"We are going through hell and back together right now folks -- let's just do that once. Let's learn from this and then let's responsibly, as a region, coordinate it, harmonized reopen our societies and our economies," he said.
At this point, COVID-19 is still hitting hospitals hard. Seven had reached capacity Sunday and had to turn patients away. And while available – ventilators remain scarce.
To that end, the state health department issued triage guidelines this weekend for how to decide which patients get resources if the critical care systems become overwhelmed.
"The goal of the allocation framework is to achieve for populations of patients often expressed as doing the greatest good for the greatest number," New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said.
No judgments on allocating resources can be based on age, sex, race or any other lines of discrimination.
"Turns out you can't buy your way to salvation, that's the way it should be," Murphy said.
