UPDATED: 5:30 p.m.
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In the past 24 hours, New Jersey fatalities from COVID-19 climbed from 917 to 1,003, Gov. Phil Murphy said. As of Monday, there are 41,090 positive cases of coronavirus across the state.
New Jersey is likely weeks away from hitting the peak of the outbreak, according to health officials. Bergen, Essex and Hudson counties in suburban New York have seen the most cases.
He added there may still be anomalous days, but overall the curve “is beginning, and I use that word cautiously, is beginning to flatten.”
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.
Flattening the curve
“The curve is flattening, but this is no time to spike any footballs or take our foot off the gas,” he said.
For the first time, state health officials said that the height of the outbreak would likely come between April 19 and May 11, with anywhere from 86,000 to 509,000 positive cases.
Hand-washing and social distancing will have to continue for a while, the governor said, though he didn't specify how long.
“If we don't keep doing what we're doing, we're still going to be in a world of hurt where our health care system — no matter how good a job we do to prepare — will be overwhelmed like a tsunami,” Murphy alluded.
Retirees return to work
Murphy signed an executive order on Monday that allows retired public employees to return to work — in whichever capacity they can – to aid in the pandemic without impacting their pension status.
Comfort for New Jersey
Some beds on the USNS Comfort hospital ship that recently arrived to help New York battle the virus will go to New Jersey residents, Murphy said.
The governor didn't have many details, as he said he had just gotten off the phone with President Donald Trump who approved the governor's request for beds on the ship.
Hundreds cited for violating stay-at-home order
Authorities in Newark cited more than 800 people and ordered dozens of businesses closed on charges they violated the governor's stay-at-home order to combat COVID-19.
Thus far, 842 people were issued summonses, and 44 nonessential businesses have been closed in the week since police began cracking down, Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose told NJ.com.
Police at first gave people warnings but began to issue summonses on March 31, according to authorities. Murphy signed the stay-at-home directive on March 21.
People had been “blatantly” violating the order, Ambrose said.
There have been other reports of citations across the state, as well.
A performance by a Pink Floyd cover band that drew about 30 adults to the front yard of a home on Saturday night has resulted in charges against a Rumson man.
Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan said the man was charged with several disorderly persons offenses including reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct.
Drive-thru testing
Two more South Jersey counties will open their first drive-thru testing sites this week.
Gloucester County will begin testing Wednesday at Rowan College of South Jersey in Sewell. County residents with symptoms should call 856-218-4142 to be pre-screened, and if they have insurance, they should have that ready when they call.
Once pre-screened, an appointment will be scheduled.
In Atlantic County, plans are to open a facility Thursday in the parking lot of the Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing.
Symptomatic health care workers and first responders will be able to schedule appointments through the county Office of Emergency Preparedness. Testing for the general public will begin next week, with specific details to be released later this week.
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