Community Corner
'Breakthrough' COVID-19 Cases, Deaths In NJ: Here's What To Know
The COVID-19 vaccine is your best bet to avoid catching COVID-19, but it's not a total silver bullet.
NEW JERSEY - Of the 4,432,769 Garden State residents who have been completely vaccinated, 3,474 still went on to contract COVID-19, according to data from the state Department of Public Health released this week.
The New Jersey Department of Health has been tracking “breakthrough” cases – positive coronavirus cases that occur in people who are fully vaccinated, which is defined as individuals who are 14 days past the date of their final vaccine dose. Eighty-four of the state's 3,474 vaccine breakthrough cases have required hospitalization. Thirty-one of those infected have died, and officials note that translates to a 99.9993 percent effective vaccine.
Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"These numbers speak for themselves. We only have a pandemic among the unvaccinated," Governor Phil Murphy said Monday. "Everyone ages 12 and up who is eligible should go and get vaccinated.
As of Monday, New Jersey's latest numbers were:
Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- 324 new positive PCR tests
- 898,254 total PCR tests
- 110 new positive antigen tests
- 130,989 total antigen tests
- The statewide rate of transmission is currently 1.37.
- The positivity rate is 2.5%.
- 338 patients in our hospitals (274 confirmed COVID-positive, 64 persons under investigation)
- 58 patients in our ICUs
- 29 ventilators in use
- 43 live patients discharged
- 45 COVID-positive patients admitted
- 1 in-hospital death
The coronavirus continues to spread in New Jersey and in all other states, primarily among unvaccinated individuals. New daily diagnoses of COVID-19 have increased with the rise of the Delta variant and hospitalizations have risen 20 percent in two weeks, according to the state Department of Health.
Murphy reiterated that for family, community, public health and common sense everyone who can get inoculated, should get inoculated.
"We cannot put it any more succinctly: The vaccines work," Murphy noted.
To find a vaccination site near you, visit covid19.nj.gov/finder
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