How Reopening Has Impacted NJ Coronavirus Case Counts: New Data

NEW JERSEY — New coronavirus cases in New Jersey are on a sharp downward trend as the state continues through its three-stage reopening process, new data from both Johns Hopkins University and the COVID Tracking Project shows. The trend is expected to continue now that Gov. Phil Murphy expects New Jersey to enter "stage three" of its reopening within weeks.

The trend also prompted Murphy to officially usher in "stage two" of New Jersey's reopening on Monday, when indoor retail and outdoor dining restarted. New Jersey has been undergoing a piecemeal, phased-in reopening since May 17th. Read more: Gov. Murphy: 'Hard Dates' In NJ Coronavirus Reopening Blueprint

On Monday, Murphy announced 274 new coronavirus cases – the lowest number of daily cases since March 20th – and 52 more deaths. But the number of daily cases has dropped 78 percent since the reopening began on May 17th, when there were 1,272 new ones. (see list of daily cases below, going back to March 4th).

Johns Hopkins University has been tracking state-level data as the country reopens. In a troubling trend, many states are experiencing a resurgence of new cases, the data shows.

New Jersey, however, is among a handful of states showing downward trends in new coronavirus cases, Johns Hopkins researchers say. It joins nearby states like Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland and Pennsylvania in experiencing a decline of new cases.

The three-day average of new cases in New Jersey peaked on April 4 with 3,972 cases. As of June 13, its average was down to 355 cases, according to a dashboard from Johns Hopkins showing critical trends.

The overall number of cases in New Jersey is 167,103 – second highest in the nation – and 12,676 people have died. Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

In nearby Pennsylvania, the three-day average of new cases peaked on April 9 at 1,733. As of June 13, the three-day average of cases was 451, the Johns Hopkins data shows.

The Associated Press, in a piece published last week, also pointed to some alarming trends in its analysis using data from the COVID Tracking Project. Cases are rising in nearly half the states, including in Arizona, Florida, Texas, and Alabama. New Jersey is not among the states with rising cases, that analysis said.

In Florida, the three-day average of cases has spiked to 2,060 — up from 513 on May 27. In Alabama, the three-day average of cases has spiked to 870 — up from 182 on April 30, which was when that state's stay-at-home order expired.

Murphy, who has clashed with lawmakers and business owners over his coronavirus reopening strategy, said New Jersey has so far been successful in preventing a resurgence of cases due to a cautious approach that relies on science and health experts, saying: "data determines dates."

"Our goal is to not experience the spikes that others states are now seeing because they rushed to open too much too soon," Murphy said during a Monday news conference. "The results are stark We have lost too many lives in too short a period to not heed the lessons of this virus."

As for stage three, which would include reopening – on a limited basis – indoor entertainment, restaurants and bars as well as schools, Murphy said: "I think this is a question of weeks, and not months. I hope we will be giving some more guidance, more steps later this week."

Here is a look at new coronavirus cases by the day:

• 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:

• 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