The State of New Jersey recorded 964 new positive COVID-19 tests on Friday. The new cases bring the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state to date to 906,271.

In the 0 to 4 age group, 40 new positive cases were recorded. In the 5 to 17 age group, 225 new positive cases were recorded on Friday.

The seven-day average for new confirmed positive tests increased to 814, up 40% from a week ago and 281% from a month ago. That’s the highest seven-day average since May 13, when cases were starting to steadily decline.

The rate of transmission is 1.48, slightly lower than that of Thursday, which was 1.5.

Another six residents of the state died due to complications related to COVID-19. Four new deaths in the past 24 hours still need to be confirmed through lab tests. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 related deaths to date in the state is 23,876.

The COVID-19 test positivity percent in North, Central and South New Jersey is 4%, 5.6% and 4% respectively.

As of Friday morning, a total of 10.84 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the state, and about 5.29 million second doses have been administered. The second dose number includes 395,000 J&J vaccines. About 323,0000 residents in the 12 to 15 age group have been vaccinated to date, and the figure is 239,000 for 16 and 17-year-olds.

On Thursday night, 485 patients were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases across New Jersey’s hospitals. Seventy-five patients were in critical or intensive care, with 33 on ventilators. Seventy patients were discharged on Thursday, while 75 new patients were admitted.

There were seven new resident and nine new staff COVID-19 cases in long-term care facilities. There was one new resident death in a long-term care facility.

Middlesex County – 91 new positives

Mercer County – 24 new positives

Monmouth County: 118 new positives

Hunterdon County – 15 new positives

Somerset County – 37 new positives

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.