TRENTON (1010 WINS) — New Jersey’s coronavirus transmission rate inched up for the second day in a row Sunday as the state reported more than 300 new COVID cases.
Gov. Phil Murphy said there were 306 new cases, bringing the state’s total to 191,611 positive cases.
There were also four more deaths reported Sunday. The statewide death toll is now 14,157, not including 1,780 probable deaths.
The number of patients in hospitals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 was 480 Saturday, with 95 patients in intensive or critical care.
The state’s transmission rate was 0.87 Sunday, the second day it has increased. The transmission rate was 0.81 on Saturday and 0.77 on Friday.
A transmission rate above 1 indicates that for every infected person, the virus is spreading to at least one other person on average. The rate was above 1 for a number of days earlier this month before dropping back down.
Murphy announced last week that gyms in the state would be allowed to reopen indoors on Tuesday at 25 percent capacity.
The governor also said last week that the state was “getting close” to permitting some indoor dining at bars and restaurants.