It was a case of misery compounded as 16 of the state’s 21 counties lived under a tornado watch until 6 p.m. as Governor Phil Murphy trudged into the latest awful COVID-19 numbers. Murphy relayed news of another 3,219 more positive test results, bringing New Jersey’s total to 64,584.

In 24 hours, the state processed the loss of 94 more people, bringing the statewide death total to 2,443 since New Jersey began to absorb the worst of the deadly virus on March 4th.

“To put that in perspective, that was more the number of New Jerseyans who gave their lives in the combination of the Korean and Vietnam wars,” the governor said.

Paterson Police Officer Fransesco Scorpo, 34, the father of two, died on Saturday from COVID-19.

“To his wife and his two sons, and his mother, we send our prayers,” the governor said.

He sounded a note of hope as he put a map of the state up on screen and demonstrated the slowing rate of new cases. “We have to continue practicing our social distancing,” Murphy said. “We cannot get complacent. If we let up, it can just as easily become red again.

“These cases are still rising. We have to hit that plateau. We only do that if you all stay home,” he added. “Even on the good weather days, we need you to stay home.”

Ultimately, the state scrapped the tornado watch shortly before 5 p.m.