TRENTON, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey is reporting a rise in COVID-19 cases as the delta variant continues to spread.
The state added 594 new COVID-19 cases Monday, pushing the seven-day average to the highest point since mid-May.
"The trends we are seeing over the last several days suggest we are not done seeing these numbers continue to rise," Gov. Phil Murphy said at his weekly coronavirus briefing in Trenton.
"The spread of the coronavirus among the unvaccinated is increasing, and we are seeing the same upticks in our numbers due to the rapid spread of the highly transmittable and contagious delta variant," he said.
Murphy said because 5.2 million New Jerseyans are vaccinated, he's hopeful the state won't return to the level of the spring peak.
He reported three more deaths, bringing the state's cumulative confirmed death toll to 23,860. Murphy said because of the vaccines, many of the deaths could have been avoided.
"Over the past week we have confirmed the loss of 37 more New Jerseyans," he shared.
"From what we are seeing in terms of the effectiveness of the vaccines, the majority of the recent deaths were preventable."
Murphy was asked about New York City's decision to require city workers to be vaccinated or have weekly testing, and whether New Jersey would follow suit. He replied that if you make decisions based on science, you have to keep all options open.
"What work looks like when we're all back together continues to be something that we're meeting on and weighing, etc. No news on that yet," he said.
The governor was also asked whether he would reconsider his decision not to not allow a virtual option when students return to schools this fall. He said that as of now, he wouldn't.
"We fully expect to be back to school, Monday through Friday, full days, as close to a normal school year as possible," Murphy said.
"There's no question where the richer educational experience is, and that is full-on in person."
