Gov. Murphy: NJ Coronavirus Deaths Decline For 4th Straight Day

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy, speaking during a Saturday press conference, revealed that coronavirus fatalities declined for the fourth straight day as he announced the outbreak's latest numbers: 3,457 new cases and 249 deaths (you can watch it here, below).

Murphy revealed that deaths have declined since hitting a record high of 379 on Tuesday. That was followed by 314 on Wednesday, 307 on Thursday and 253 on Friday.

Overall, New Jersey has had 105,523 total cases, and 5,863 people have died. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Despite the decline, Murphy said New Jersey is still not at a place where the state can reopen its economy and its schools. He said New Jersey's curves "are all going largely in the right direction. We need to see those go down aggressively."

"We cannot ease up on the social distancing," Murphy said. "We need to see more progress and more slowing before we can begin implementing any effort to get ourselves on the road to the new normal that awaits our state on the other side of this pandemic."

Murphy had suggested that he could offer a reopening plan as early as Friday. But Murphy said during a news conference that that plan will be released on Monday. Read more: Gov. Murphy To Roll Out Broad NJ Reopening Plan Amid Coronavirus

It's not known if the slowing progress in the coronavirus crisis management that was revealed on Friday impacted that plan, as well as its release. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ 'Backslides' In Coronavirus Outbreak

While fatalities have declined, the number of cases has flattened over the past week. Murphy said he would like to see that curve go down more, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that no economy should begin to reopen without a 14-day decline in cases.

Murphy presented the case trend on a graph:

Total hospitalizations and new hospitalizations have also generally declined, while 1,971 were in critical or intensive care on Saturday, and 1,442 were on ventilators. Murphy also said 686 were discharged on Friday.

Gov. Phil Murphy also spoke about how hotels and motels for individuals without safe, permanent housing must be maintained. Read more: NJ Residents Sans Permanent Housing Get Coronavirus Protections

Murphy also paid tribute to those who died:

Watch Murphy here:

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Here's what else you should know:

• Murphy issued a stay-at-home order, closing all non-essential business at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 21. Read more: Gov. Murphy Announces NJ 'Stay-At-Home' Order Due To Coronavirus
• Murphy, speaking during a Thursday, April 16 press conference, said schools will remain closed through May 15. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Schools Shut Through May 15 In Coronavirus Crisis
• Murphy ordered stores across New Jersey on Wednesday, April 8 to require shoppers to wear face coverings or masks. Here's how you can get yours, and how the new rule will be enforced. Read more: NJ Shoppers Must Wear Masks: Where To Get Them, How It's Enforced
• Here are 10 resources for you and your family to utilize as you navigate through the outbreak: Unemployment, Tests, Food: 10 NJ Resources In Coronavirus Crisis
• New Jersey's courts suspended all new jury trials until further notice, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner said on Thursday, March 12. Read more: Coronavirus Throws Monkey Wrench Into New Jersey Court System
• Murphy said during a live press conference on Wednesday, March 25 that he's ordering many day care centers to shut amid the coronavirus outbreak. Read more: Gov. Murphy To Shut Many Day Care Centers Amid Coronavirus Crisis
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel advisory for New Jersey. Read more: CDC Travel Advisory For NJ: No Coronavirus Travel Ban From Trump
• New Jersey residents are expected to start receiving stimulus payments soon. Here's what you need to do beforehand. Read more: Coronavirus Economic Stimulus Payments: What You Need To Do In NJ
• On Friday, March 27, Murphy allowed more types of New Jersey businesses – including gun sellers – to operate in the coronavirus outbreak. What's open and closed now? Read more: What's Open, Closed? More NJ Business To Operate Amid Coronavirus
• Murphy announced on Tuesday, April 7 that state and county parks will close. Read more: Gov. Murphy Closes Parks On NJ Coronavirus Crisis's Deadliest Day
• Here are four urgent tasks New Jersey wants you to do during the coronavirus outbreak, including wearing a mask. And here's why. Read more: Wear A Mask! 4 Things NJ Wants You To Do In Coronavirus Outbreak

How It Spreads

The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person. Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others. That is why CDC recommends that these patients be isolated either in the hospital or at home (depending on how sick they are) until they are better and no longer pose a risk of infecting others.

There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19.

While the best way to prevent illness is to avoid virus exposure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention always recommends taking preventive actions to contain the spread of viruses. This includes:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.