'These numbers are alarming': NJ reports 68 COVID-19 deaths, more than 5K new cases

TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- New Jersey reported 68 new COVID-19-related deaths and more than 5,000 new positive test results on Thursday, Gov. Phil Murphy said.

Of the COVID-19 test results that came back in the state on Wednesday, 5,370 were positive, Murphy tweeted Thursday afternoon.

The 68 new fatalities pushed New Jersey's death toll to 15,740, he said.

As of Wednesday, 3,545 New Jerseyans were hospitalized with confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases, 644 of whom were in intensive care and 412 of whom were on ventilators, the state's COVID-19 tracker shows.

"These numbers are alarming," Murphy wrote on Twitter. "We need to hang on a little longer."

"Mask up. Social distance. Stay informed," he added.