In the deadliest briefing to date, Governor Phil Murphy’s state Department of Health this afternoon reported 3,675 official COVID-19 cases statewide, and a total 44 deaths releated to the disease.

The number represents an increase of 17 people dead in 24 hours and makes New Jersey the state after after New York with the second highest number of COVID-19 cases.

“We have learned with a heavy, heavy heart of an additional 17,” Murphy said this afternoon. “This is by far our largest single day of deaths.”

Yesterday, the governor reported 27 deaths.

846 more residents tested positive in 24 hours.

“This increase is not a surprise,” Murphy said on Monday, in reference to the spread of the virus in NJ.

Neither is the exploding number of positive cases necessarily a cause for great alarm.

“As the testing regime expands we’re going to see these numbers go up in a big way,” the governor said.  “We will see numbers go into the many thousands. …These cases will continue to rise as testing increases.”

He said the numbers would worsen, and they have.

So has active law enforcement engagement.

In Manalapan, a skirmish ensued at a local Wegman’s when a man coughed on the woman and said he had the coronavirus, then refused to cooperate with police, Murphy said on Tuesday.

The governor reiterated his order to people – and specifically employers – to stay home and work from home.

“My executive order is not a polite sugesstion,” Murphy said. “No one who can work from home should be doing work from an office.”

Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said New Jersey is seeing a significant number of cases under the age of 54.

“Thirty-five percent of cases are between the ages of 30 and 49,” Persichilli said.  “Twenty-four percent have been hospitalized.

“This is a reminder to younger individuals that they are not immune to COVID-19,” the health commissioner added.

She also reported one confirmed case in 19 of New Jersey’s long-term care facility.

In general COVID-19 news, standardized tests for students will be cancelled for April, Murphy told reporters.

“With students at home it is not feasible for us to move forward with testing in any meaningful way,” the governor said.

Passaic County will open a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site, similar to sites already opened in Bergen, Monmouth, Hudson and Union.

“We fully expect the number of positive tests to go up into the many thousands,” said the governor. “While we cannot wait to see the numbers plateau… we do not know when that will be. I urge everyone not to be alarmed by the numbers of positive tests. It is big. It’s getting bigger. It will continue getting bigger over the coming days.”

As of 2pm on Tuesday March 24th, the NJDOH cites 3675 COVID-19 cases statewide, with 44 deaths, 428 negative test results from the state lab, and 45 persons under investigation at the state lab.

COVID-19 Cases by County
Data is provisional and subsequent to revision.

645 Positives Pending Further Information

Bergen County:

701 Positive Test Result(s)

Essex County:

342 Positive Test Result(s)

Monmouth County:

288 Positive Test Result(s)

Middlesex County:

277 Positive Test Result(s)

Union County:

246 Positive Test Result(s)

Hudson County:

234 Positive Test Result(s)

Passaic County:

216 Positive Test Result(s)

Morris County:

204 Positive Test Result(s)

Ocean County:

180 Positive Test Result(s)

Somerset County:

102 Positive Test Result(s)

Mercer County:

58 Positive Test Result(s)

Camden County:

51 Positive Test Result(s)

Burlington County:

42 Positive Test Result(s)

Hunterdon County:

25 Positive Test Result(s)

Gloucester County:

19 Positive Test Result(s)

Sussex County:

18 Positive Test Result(s)

Warren County:

15 Positive Test Result(s)

Atlantic County:

6 Positive Test Result(s)

Cape May County:

3 Positive Test Result(s)

Cumberland County:

2 Positive Test Result(s)

Salem County:

1 Positive Test Result(s)