TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- New Jersey reported more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases for the second day in a row on Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy said, noting that many of the state's new cases have been linked to private gatherings.
The state reported 1,192 new positive COVID-19 test results and four new fatalities on Monday, bringing its cumulative case total to 221,205 and its death toll to 14,425, Murphy said at a news briefing.
Ocean County reported 154 of the new cases, Essex County reported 132, Union County reported 109, Middlesex County reported 108, and Bergen County reported 103.
As of Sunday evening, 758 people in the state were hospitalized with confirmed or positive COVID-19 cases, 166 of whom were in intensive care and 62 of whom were on ventilators.
"While these numbers are a far cry from where we were at our springtime peaks, they are also significantly higher than where we were throughout much of the summer, and until just a few weeks ago," Murphy said.
"Many of the new cases we are tracking are coming not from our schools or businesses, or many other activities, but from private gatherings inside private homes," he added. "Especially as the cooler weather pulls more of us back inside, we have to remain extra vigilant."
The governor on Monday also said the state's Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control would extend restaurants' outdoor liquor license permits through the end of March 2021, "for a nominal $10 fee."
"For many of our residents, having the ability to serve liquor to their customers beyond their normal premises has been meaningful — in some cases life-saving — for them, and helped them survive during these challenging times," he said.
"Given the current uncertainty, extending these permits is the right thing to do," he added.
