TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- New Jersey's second wave of COVID-19 is imminent, Gov. Phil Murphy warned on Thursday, as the state reported nearly 1,500 new positive test results.
A total of 1,477 COVID-19 test results that came back in the state on Wednesday were positive, Murphy said at a news briefing.
Essex County reported 241 of those results and is currently the state's "biggest concern," he said. Six other counties — Bergen, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Passaic and Union — each reported more than 100 new cases.
"[The numbers] continue to show that the second wave of the coronavirus is no longer something off in the future. It is coming, and it is coming now," he said.
"We have been seeing the numbers of new cases grow exponentially across the past several weeks, and along with that, the numbers of patients being treated in our hospitals has similarly been on the rise," he added.
As of Wednesday, 1,072 people in the state were hospitalized with confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases, 217 of whom were in intensive care and 79 of whom were on ventilators, Murphy said.
The state also reported eight new COVID-19 fatalities, bringing its death toll to 14,539. All of the residents who passed away died within the past 10 days, he noted.
Murphy urged New Jerseyans to "double down on the practices that helped us flatten the curve in the first place last spring and throughout the summer," including social distancing, frequent hand-washing and mask-wearing.
Many of the state's new cases have been linked to gatherings in private homes, he stressed.
"After eight months, I understand, we understand, that we are all suffering from pandemic fatigue, but this virus has been waiting for us to get lax in our personal responsibilities so that it could come roaring back," he said.
"I urge you to get back to that level of vigilance that you showed six months ago, so that we can beat back the second wave," he added.
