NJ Issues New Warning After Back-To-Back 'Big' COVID-19 Numbers

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy joined other state officials Friday in issuing a new warning that coronavirus cases continue to be on the rise again in New Jersey. Murphy, speaking during a news conference, issued the warning as he announced 519 new coronavirus cases and five more deaths (you can watch the news conference here, below).

With 617 recorded on Thursday, New Jersey had its highest two-day total of cases since Aug. 14 (see the daily case total list below).

Murphy and state officials noted that cases have spiraled up especially in Monmouth and Ocean counties. New Jersey's overall case total rose to 198,848 on Friday, and 14,270 confirmed deaths have been reported. Read more: NJ Coronavirus, School Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Indeed, Ocean County became the first county in weeks to have a single-day triple-digit total of new cases on Thursday, with 112 new cases revealed. The county also had the highest new-case total of any county on Friday: 93.

Monmouth County also has had big increases in recent days: 83 on Thursday and 51 on Friday.

Murphy said he was especially concerned about "back-to-back days where we clocked big numbers" now that many people will be holding gatherings to celebrate Rosh Hashanah this weekend.

"I plead — if you are worshipping this weekend and celebrating and observing the new year, please do so responsibly," Murphy said. "Please, please, please."

Murphy said he wants to reopen more of New Jersey but that the Garden State needs to remain vigilant.

"Please don't let your guard down," he said. "We've come an enormous distance in the six months we've been at this."

Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said four contact tracers have been redeployed to Ocean County to investigate if the new cases are related — and if this means that New Jersey has a new outbreak.

Persichilli said New Jersey has seen new cases linked to not only to celebratory gatherings but also solemn gatherings such as in funerals.

"No matter the reason, this increase in cases reminds us that this virus is unrelenting," she said. "It treats everyone the same. We are fighting an invisible enemy, and we must continue to be cognizant of that fact, and we must continue to be vigilant to protect ourselves and our loved ones."

Persichilli said young people continue to be the age group that's had the most new cases in recent weeks.

On Thursday, 27 percent of the new cases were among people ages 20 to 29. And 17 percent were among people ages 10 to 19 – the most among any age groups in the state.

"We cannot let our guard down. We must keep up all public health measures that have allowed us to flatten the curve of COVID-19 in our state," she said.

The new numbers come as nearly 10,000 more layoffs are planned in New Jersey, and the state continues to wrestle with the economic woes from the coronavirus crisis. Here's where. Read more: 10K More Layoffs In NJ As Coronavirus Economic Impact Continues

Watch Murphy here:

Here is a look at new coronavirus cases by day:

• September 18: 519

• September 17: 617

• September 16: 447

• September 15: 498

• September 14: 346

• September 13: 306

• September 12: 487

• September 11: 518

• September 10: 507

• September 9: 356

• September 8: 284

• September 7: 344

• September 6: 360

• September 5: 370

• September 4: 478

• September 3: 455

• September 2: 329

• September 1: 365

• August 31: 352

• August 30: 306

• August 29: 388

• August 28: 372

• August 27: 374

• August 26: 288

• August 25: 346

• August 24: 225

• August 23: 288

• August 22: 427

• August 21: 313

• August 20: 302

• August 19: 399

• August 18: 400

• August 17: 316

• August 16: 329

• August 15: 464

• August 14: 585

• August 13: 699

• August 12: 484

• August 11: 498

• August 10: 258

• August 9: 378

• August 8: 379

• August 7: 384

• August 6: 411

• August 5: 378

• August 4: 416

• August 3: 264

• August 2: 331

• August 1: 393

• July 31: 699

• July 30: 261

• July 29: 489

• July 28: 565

• July 27: 446

• July 26: 512

• July 25: 547

• July 24: 488

• July 23: 344

• July 22: 390

• July 21: 424

• July 20: 177

• July 19: 144

• July 18: 309

• July 17: 202

• July 16: 254

• July 15: 396

• July 14: 423

• July 13: 231

• July 12: 349

• July 11: 438

• July 10: 367

• July 9: 354

• July 8: 335

• July 7: 310

• July 6: 216

• July 5: 398

• July 4: 303

• July 3: 386

• July 2: 539

• July 1: 423

• June 30: 461

• June 29: 156

• June 28: 354

• June 27: 347

• June 26: 524

• June 25: 406

• June 24: 317

• June 23: 382

• June 22: 359

• June 21: 411

• June 20: 446

• June 19: 516

• June 18: 442

• June 17: 330

• June 16: 470

• June 15: 274

• June 14: 305

• June 13: 523

• June 12: 495

• June 11: 539

• June 10: 611

• June 9: 375

• June 8: 356

• June 7: 426

• June 6: 606

• June 5: 864

• June 4: 603

• June 3: 652

• June 2: 708

• June 1: 509

• May 31: 868

• May 30: 910

• May 29: 1,117

• May 28: 1,261

• May 27: 970

• May 26: 703

• May 25: 965

• May 24: 1,065

• May 23: 443

• May 22: 1,394

• May 21: 1,304

• May 20: 1,670

• May 19: 1,055

• May 18: 1,735

• May 17: 1,272

• May 16: 1,239

• May 15: 1,297

• May 14: 1,216

• May 13: 1,028

• May 12: 898

• May 11: 1,453

• May 10: 1,503

• May 9: 1,759

• May 8: 1,985

• May 7: 1,827

• May 6: 1,513

• May 5: 2,494

• May 4: 1,621

• May 3: 3,144

• May 2: 2,912

• May 1: 2,651

• April 30: 2,633

• April 29: 2,481

• April 28: 2,887

• April 27: 2,146

• April 26: 3,730

• April 25: 3,457

• April 24: 3,047

• April 23: 4,427

• April 22: 3,551

• April 21: 3,644

• April 20: 3,528

• April 19: 3,915

• April 18: 3,026

• April 17: 3,250

• April 16: 4,391

• April 15: 2,625

• April 14: 4,049

• April 13: 3,219

• April 12: 3,733

• April 11: 3,599

• April 10: 3,627

• April 9: 3,748

• April 8: 3,088

• April 7: 3,361

• April 6: 3,663

• April 5: 3,482

• April 4: 4,331

• April 3: 4,372

• April 2: 3,489

• April 1: 3,649

• March 31: 2,196

• March 30: 3,347

• March 29: 2,316

• March 28: 2,289

• March 27: 1,982

• March 26: 2,492

• March 25: 736

• March 24: 846

• March 23: 935

• March 22: 590

• March 21: 442

• March 20: 155

• March 19: 318

• March 18: 162

• March 17: 89

• March 16: 80

• March 15: 31

• March 14: 19

• March 13: 21

• March 12: 21

• March 11: 8

• March 10: 4

• March 9: 5

• March 8: 6

• March 7: 1

• March 6: 1

• March 5: 1

• March 4: 1

Here is a look at coronavirus deaths by day:

• September 18: 5

• September 17: 3

• September 16: 9

• September 15: 9

• September 14: 3

• September 13: 4

• September 12: 4

• September 11: 9

• September 10: 5

• September 9: 7

• September 8: 5

• September 7: 2

• September 6: 4

• September 5: 7

• September 4: 7

• September 3: 9

• September 2: 11

• September 1: 7

• August 31: 8

• August 30: 4

• August 29: 4

• August 28: 9

• August 27: 7

• August 26: 11

• August 25: 5

• August 24: 3

• August 23: 3

• August 22: 3

• August 21: 13

• August 20: 8

• August 19: 11

• August 18: 10

• August 17: 4

• August 16: 4

• August 15: 7

• August 14: 10

• August 13: 8

• August 12: 9

• August 11: 14

• August 10: 4

• August 9: 5

• August 8: 9

• August 7: 12

• August 6: 8

• August 5: 8

• August 4: 11

• August 3: 10

• August 2: 6

• August 1: 11

• July 31: 10

• July 30: 16

• July 29: 18

• July 28: 24

• July 27: 17

• July 26: 11

• July 25: 16

• July 24: 36

• July 23: 23

• July 22: 24

• July 21: 21

• July 20: 9

• July 19: 11

• July 18: 16

• July 17: 20

• July 16: 32

• July 15: 27

• July 14: 28

• July 13: 22

• July 12: 16

• July 11: 49

• July 10: 31

• July 9: 28

• July 8: 53

• July 7: 52

• July 6: 20

• July 5: 23

• July 4: 25

• July 3: 58

• July 2: 27

• July 1: 45

• June 30: 47

• June 29: 18

• June 28: 30

• June 27: 36

• June 26: 44

• June 25: 26

• June 24: 48

• June 23: 57

• June 22: 27

• June 21: 17

• June 20: 25

• June 19: 37

• June 18: 38

• June 17: 47

• June 16: 51

• June 15: 52

• June 14: 40

• June 13: 103

• June 12: 48

• June 11: 70

• June 10: 74

• June 9: 91

• June 8: 40

• June 7: 79

• June 6: 60

• June 5: 79

• June 4: 92

• June 3: 112

• June 2: 51

• June 1: 27

• May 31: 66

• May 30: 113

• May 29: 131

• May 28: 66

• May 27: 148

• May 26: 54

• May 25: 16

• May 24: 52

• May 23: 96

• May 22: 146

• May 21: 98

• May 20: 168

• May 19: 162

• May 18: 83

• May 17: 107

• May 16: 116

• May 15: 201

• May 14: 244

• May 13: 197

• May 12: 198

• May 11: 59

• May 10: 140

• May 9: 166

• May 8: 162

• May 7: 254

• May 6: 308

• May 5: 334

• May 4: 45

• May 3: 137

• May 2: 205

• May 1: 311

• April 30: 460

• April 29: 329

• April 28: 402

• April 27: 106

• April 26: 75

• April 25: 249

• April 24: 253

• April 23: 307

• April 22: 314

• April 21: 379

• April 20: 177

• April 19: 132

• April 18: 231

• April 17: 323

• April 16: 362

• April 15: 351

• April 14: 365

• April 13: 94

• April 12: 168

• April 11: 251

• April 10: 233

• April 9: 198

• April 8: 275

• April 7: 232

• April 6: 86

• April 5: 71

• April 4: 200

• April 3: 113

• April 2: 182

• April 1: 91

• March 31: 69

• March 30: 37

• March 29: 21

• March 28: 32

• March 27: 27

• March 26: 19

• March 25: 18

• March 24: 17

• March 23: 7

• March 22: 4

• March 21: 5

• March 20: 2

• March 19: 4

• March 18: 3

• March 17: 0

• March 16: 1

• March 15: 0

• March 14: 1

• March 13: 0

• March 12: 0

• March 11: 0

• March 10: 1

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This article originally appeared on the West Orange Patch