PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — COVID-19 cases are continuing to climb in New Jersey, and the state is reporting a sharp rise in the number of people hospitalized.
During his weekly COVID-19 briefing Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy pointed out what he called a “significant progression” of the virus.
“The numbers themselves, if you just spend a minute looking at them, need very little interpretation," he said.
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"They’re going up and they’re staying there.”
3,481 new daily cases were reported Monday, and state health commissioner Judy Persichilli said 1,650 people were being treated for COVID in New Jersey’s hospitals.
“New hospitalizations are up 81% compared to two weeks ago,” Persichilli said.
She projected the hospitalizations would crest in about a month.
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“If things stay the way they are right now, we would expect about 3,500 cases mid-January [as] the peak.”
She said 80% of those hospitalized are unvaccinated, but the other 20 percent were likely infected because of decreasing immunity.
“With cases increasing, it is critical that more residents get boosters because we know immunity is waning," Perischilli said.
The state is encouraging vaccination clinics to accept walk-ins for booster shots on Wednesday, the anniversary of the state’s first COVID-19 vaccination.
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Murphy reported that 70% of state workers were vaccinated, following the employee vaccine mandate that took effect in October.
He said 43 of 50 state agencies had rates over 75%.
“Because certain agencies and departments only got back in-person over the past number of weeks, the data really is a starting place,” Murphy said.
“The results are a starting place, not where we will end up.”
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Unvaccinated state employees have to submit to regular testing or face progressive discipline.
Persichilli also announced that free at-home PCR COVID-19 tests are available to residents who request them by clicking here.
Kits are sent by UPS with results available 24 to 48 hours after they’re received at the lab.
