In today’s Covid-19 press briefing, State Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli spoke to yesterday’s death. “This Monmouth County woman had contact with a confirmed case in Bergen County,” she said. “We continue to see the number of Covid-19 cases rise in this state.

“Avoid gatherings both small and large,” Persichilli said. “A family gathering in Monmouth has resulted in the one death reported by the state.”

Saturday’s victim was related in some way to horse trainer John Brennan of Little Ferry, who was the first New Jerseyean to die from the virus, according to a source. InsiderNJ has not confirmed this information with the state Department of Health, which earlier Saturday did not respond to an email about this case.

The independent source said the woman had an underlying thyroid condition.

Persichilli on Sunday confirmed that “The contact [at the family gathering] was between [the woman who died Saturday] and a member who expired,” referring to Mr. Brennan.

InsiderNJ’s source said the victim was Mr. Brennan’s sister. But Persichilli late in the call on Sunday saidthe late  Mr. Brennan and the woman who died yesterday were not related.

A brother at the family gathering of the recently deceased woman was a friend of the late Mr. Brennan, the health commissioner clarified.

That was the connection.

Persichilli cited 13 of 21 counties – containing confirmed cases of all ages – as the sites of today’s new 31 cases confirmed by the state lab:

Bergen seven

Hudson six

Monmouth four

Essex four

Passaic three

Union three

Ocean One

Burlington One

Morris one

Middlesex One

Prior to Persichilli, Governor Phil Murphy in his remarks lingered on the critical nature of social distancing.

“Not enough is being done,” said the governor. “There is too much business as usual. This is something no one can be cavalier about.

“Even if you’re young, we need everybody to take [social distancing] to heart,” he added. “Obviously losing schools is a big step in that direction. Working at home is a big step in that direction.”