For the first time in three months, New Jersey crossed the 1,000 mark for new COVID-19 cases Thursday, with the state receiving 1,019 new confirmed positive tests. Another 391 PCR tests are considered probable positives.

Over the past day, Mercer County had 24 new cases, Middlesex County had 75 new cases, and Somerset County had 25 new cases. Monmouth County had 106 new cases, and Burlington County had 27 new cases as of 3 p.m. Thursday.

Overall, numbers are trending up. COVID-19 positives have been trending high for the past 12 days. The state has received a total of 905,428 positive test results since the pandemic began.

The state’s seven-day average for new confirmed cases increased Thursday to 791, up 46% from a week ago and 273% from a month ago. That’s the highest seven-day average since May 13, when cases were steadily declining.

“Please get vaccinated,” Gov. Phil Murphy said Thursday during an event in Newark. “It doesn’t mean you can’t get (the virus), but it will keep you out of the hospital.”

Murphy also said people should wear masks indoors in settings where there is an increased risk, regardless of vaccination status. ”It’s not a forever and for always,” he said. “We’re going to get through this.”

The rate of transmission is 1.5, slightly lower than the Wednesday rate of 1.51, meaning the virus is spreading.

Three new deaths due to COVID-19 have been confirmed in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of COVID-related deaths in the state to 23,871.

A total of 480 patients were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases across New Jersey’s hospitals as of Wednesday night. A total of 72 of those patients were in critical or intensive care, and 35 were on ventilators. While 62 patients were discharged, about 69 new patients were admitted.

For COVID-19 tests collected on Saturday, July 24, the positivity rate was 4.64%. The positivity rate for the north, central and south parts of the state was 4%, 5.6% and 4% respectively.

As of Thursday morning, a total of 10.81 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been given in the state. About 5.28 million second doses and one-dose J&J shots have been administered.

Prakash Parab

Dr. Prakash Parab is a resident of Monroe Township. He holds a doctorate In biopharmaceutics from the University of Cincinnati. He has 30 years of experience in product development and manufacturing technology at Bristol Myers Squibb. He is retired and works to share information about COVID-19 statistics because he sees it as his civic duty.