North-JerseyNews.com has changed how we cover COVID-19 as the pandemic moves to an endemic. While we will still provide reporting on any major developments in regards to the pandemic, we will be breaking out the most recent numbers from the state’s dashboard instead of including them with a story as we have done since March 2020. It is our belief that this will still provide you with a complete picture of COVID in our community while allowing us to continue to cover other issues of importance in North Jersey.Â
Federal regulators authorized second booster shots of the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines on March 29 for everyone 50 and older. The move came after the Biden administration decided it should seek to bolster waning immunity in older Americans in case the virus sweeps the nation again in the coming months.
The Food and Drug Administration also authorized a second booster from the two vaccine makers for individuals with certain immune deficiencies, such as those who have undergone solid organ transplants. Those 12 and older can get Pfizer’s shot while immunocompromised adults can pick between Pfizer’s or Moderna’s.
The agency said the additional shot can be given at least four months after a first booster for both for those 50 and older, and for those with weakened immune systems.
COVID-19 cases:Â
New daily PCR cases: 745; Probable Cases: 305
Total Cases: 2,196,970 (1,896,546 PCR cases, 300,424 probable cases)
New Confirmed Deaths: 11 (4 probable deaths, 33,225 total deaths)
Rate of Transmission: 1.00, up from 0.98 the day before
Percent Positivity: 3.2% as of March 24; by region, the rate was 3.7% in the North, 2.9% in the Central region and 2.1% in the South.
By County:
Bergen County: 118 New Cases, 59 Probable Cases, 3,098 deaths, 322 probable deathsÂ
Essex County: 66 New Cases, 15 Probable Cases, 3,282 deaths, 311 probable deathsÂ
Hudson County: 42 New Cases, 19 Probable Cases, 2,495 total deaths, 221 probable deathsÂ
Morris County: 56 New Cases, 10 Probable Cases, 1,226 deaths, 299 probable deathsÂ
Passaic County: 55 New Cases, 16 Probable Cases, 2,124 deaths, 201 probable deathsÂ
Sussex County: 11 New Cases, 1 Probable Case, 384 deaths, 88 probable deathsÂ
Warren County: 2 New Cases, 1 Probable Case, 314 deaths, 27 probable deaths
HospitalsÂ
Hospitalizations: 360 (157 North, 103 Central and 100 South)
Patients in intensive care units: 55
Patients on ventilators: 30
Patients discharged: 37
The state dashboard showed all 71 hospitals in the state reporting
Long-term Care Facilities
Facilities currently reporting one case: 156 (2,406 overall)
Current number of residents: 3,716 (47,302 overall)
Current number of staffers: 4,453 (38,304 overall)
Number of Deaths: 9,387 overall (8,530 reported by facilities, 149 staff deaths)
VaccineÂ
Total number of COVID-19 vaccines administered in New Jersey: 14,418,289 (13,850,428 in-state, plus an additional 567,861 administered out-of-state)
Fully Vaccinated: 6,834,359 (6,607,764 in state and another 226,595 out of state) By county, 719,983 in Bergen County, 590,971 in Essex, 527,668 in Hudson, 385,572 in Morris, 358,894 in Passaic, 92,539 in Sussex, and 60,419 in Warren.
Booster Shots: 3,236,176Â (1,787,798 Pfizer, 1,380,336 Moderna and 68,042 Johnson & Johnson)