Jan. 1 COVID-19 update: Hospitalizations continue to rise in New Jersey as transmission rate increases

COVID-19 data is provided by the New Jersey Department of Health and updated every weekday. Only hospitalizations are reported on weekends. The COVID case numbers listed are lower than actual cases due to the prevalence of at-home rapid testing now.

As of Dec. 30, 2022, 2,742 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the state via PCR testing. An additional 968 probable cases were determined via antigen testing. Twenty-four new deaths due to COVID-19 were reported by the state, while hospitals reported nine deaths. A total of 32,394 COVID-related deaths in the state have been confirmed since the pandemic began. Another 2,116 deaths are considered probably COVID-19 deaths.

As of Saturday night, Dec. 31 at 10 p.m., 1,553 people were hospitalized in New Jersey hospitals due to coronavirus-related symptoms, with 57 people on ventilators.

Area residents who have completed a complete COVID-19 vaccine course: Princeton, 81 percent; Montgomery, 87 percent; West Windsor, Plainsboro, Pennington, East Windsor, and Hightstown, more than 90 percent; Lawrence, 80 percent; Hopewell Township, 75 percent; Hopewell Borough, Robbinsville, Franklin Township, and South Brunswick Township, 86 percent; Hamilton, 77 percent; Ewing, 68 percent; Trenton, 66 percent.

In Mercer, Middlesex, Burlington, and Hunterdon counties, as of Jan. 1, 2023, the COVID-19 virus community transmission level is high. In Somerset County, the community transmission level is medium. The statewide transmission rate is 1.08.

Following are steps you can take to protect yourself and others:

• Wear a high-quality mask or respirator.
• If you are at high risk of getting very sick, consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where you could be exposed.
• If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for getting very sick, consider self-testing to detect infection before contact, and consider wearing a high-quality mask when indoors with them.
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including recommended booster doses.
• Maintain ventilation improvements.
• Avoid contact with people who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
• Follow recommendations for isolation if you have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
• Follow the recommendations for what to do if you are exposed to someone with COVID-19.