New Jersey reports 39,000 new COVID-19 cases as omicron spread increases

TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey has broken another single-day record of COVID-19 cases, with 39,389 new cases reported on Friday. This total includes 33,459 positive PCR tests and 5,930 antigen tests. This figure does not include at-home tests not reported to health officials or unreported, unconfirmed cases of COVID-19.

The state reported 63 new deaths and a rate of transmission of 1.67. Over 500 long-term health facilities have reported COVID-19 outbreaks with 5,627 confirmed cases in those facilities. 8,679 staff members have been reported with positive COVID-19 tests in those facilities.

Governor Phil Murphy this week announced he will be deploying New Jersey National Guard troops to those facilities to backfill for employees who are sick or in quarantine in those facilities.

The current number of outbreaks accounts for more than 25% of the total cumulative outbreaks at long term care facilities since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

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