New Jersey suffered 3,361 more COVID-19 confirmed positive cases, bringing the total to 44,416, according to Governor Phil Murphy. The state processed the highest single number of COVID-19 deaths in a 24-hour period, or two hundred and thirty-two (232) New Jerseyans.

That brings the death count in New Jersey to 1,232.

“It’s almost unfathomable, folks,” said Murphy at today’s briefing at the War Memorial in Trenton.

“We don’t want to lose any more members of our family,” the governor added. “The best way to do that is [staying at home] and social distancing.

“We cannot be happy with only reaching a plateau,” he added. “That’s going to require many more weeks of… staying apart. People should not be going door to door campaigning. That is not what we need right now.

“Keep doing what you’re doing,” Murphy said, as he urged New Jersey residents to confront the COVID-19 virus by remaining inside. “Keep staying home. Keep staying a distance from each other. And if you do that we will get there.  We are all in this together. We’ll only come out of this if we stay together by ironically right now staying apart.”

The governor announced that he signed an order today closing state and county parks.

Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli reported that 188 longterm care facilities in New Jersey have at least one COVID-19 case.

“We still need ventilators,” Persichilli said.

Of the 232 deaths reported in 24 hours, 33 were residents of longterm care facilities. After further investigation, the state removed three deaths reported yesterday from the statewide death count.

60% of those who most recently died from COVID-19 were males; and 40% were females.

1% were under 30

5% were 30 to 49

17% were 50-64

32% were 65-79

45% were over 80.

“These are overwhelmingly symptomatic people,” Murphy added.