New Jersey health officials announced on Wednesday that the first case of the most contagious coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa has been confirmed in the state.
The Hudson County case brings the total number of variant cases found in New Jersey to 145, said Judy Persichilli, a commissioner with the state Department of Health.
“We assume they are among us,” said Governor Phil Murphy.
The announcement comes a week after two more highly contagious variants – including the first cases of variants originally identified in Brazil and New York – were first identified in the state.
Murphy cited the uncertainty about the variants as one reason he has been cautious about lifting further New Jersey restrictions. On Wednesday, he announced that restaurants, bars, casinos, gyms, personal hygiene services and entertainment venues will be able to increase to 50% on March 19. The limits for internal and external meetings will also increase on the same day.
The vast majority of the 145 cases are of the variant discovered in the United Kingdom, which was found in 19 of the 21 counties:
- Atlantic – 1
- Bergen – 3
- Burlington – 14
- Camden – 1
- Cape May – 2
- Essex – 9
- Gloucester – 1
- Hudson – 10 (also 2 Brazilians, 1 South African variant)
- Mercer – 6
- Middlesex – 15
- Monmouth – 25
- Morris – 8
- Ocean – 29
- Passaic – 4
- Salem – 1
- Somerset – 3
- Sussex – 1
- Union – 6
- Warren – 2
Although the second wave of the pandemic has subsided in recent weeks and vaccinations continue, officials have warned that New Jersey cases and hospitalizations may increase as the variants spread.
New Jersey health officials reported an additional 3,047 confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Wednesday and an additional 56 confirmed deaths.
In all, New Jersey has already reported 729,403 confirmed cases of coronavirus. The state of some 9 million people reported that 23,768 residents died from complications related to COVID-19, including 21,294 confirmed deaths and 2,474 deaths considered likely.
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Matt Arco can be contacted at [email protected].