74% of New Jerseyans with COVID-19 refuse to cooperate with contact tracers: Murphy
TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- Nearly three-quarters of New Jerseyans who test positive for COVID-19 are refusing to cooperate with the state's contact tracers, despite a continued surge in cases and hospitalizations, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday.
New Jersey is still reporting thousands of new COVID-19 cases each day — the state recorded 3,573 new positive test results on Sunday — but "a whopping 74 percent" of residents who contract the virus aren't providing any information to contact tracers, Murphy said at a news briefing Monday afternoon.
"Quite frankly, that is unacceptable, and we need folks to turn that around," he said. "You may think you'll just call your contacts yourself, but this is a task that is best left to a trained public health professional… who can answer questions about access to testing or social supports that they may need to safely quarantine or isolate."
New Jersey reported 17 new COVID-19-related fatalities on Monday, pushing its death toll to 15,500, Murphy said.
As of Sunday night, 3,346 New Jerseyans were hospitalized with confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases, 637 of whom were in intensive care and 391 of whom were on ventilators.
"The more people who cooperate [with contact tracers], the sooner we can slow the spread and crush the curve, the sooner we can emerge from this pandemic," he said.
The governor's contact tracing update came hours after the state's new limits on outdoor gatherings took effect.
Outdoor gatherings are now limited to 25 people, with exceptions for religious or political activities, funerals, memorial services and weddings.
"We know that we're just months away from pulling ourselves out of the darkness. But this virus is still as deadly as ever," Murphy said at his briefing. "We can't let up yet. Mask up. Social distance. Wash your hands. Use common sense."
