All 21 New Jersey counties are now considered “high” risk for the transmission of COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The ratings are based on weeklong data through Saturday, Aug. 21.
The ratings show the rapid reaction to the Delta variant in the state. On Aug. 1, only one county (Monmouth) ranked “high.”
The ratings are evident in the daily COVID-19 metrics released by the state.
On Friday, the state reported 2,407 new confirmed cases and 832 probable cases. The state also said there were 923 COVID-19 patients in the hospital, 195 of which were in intensive care — with 73 of those on a ventilator.
The rate of transmission, which attempts to show how many new cases an existing case will create, was at 1.27.
By comparison:
- July 20: 593 new cases, 350 hospitalized, 58 in ICU, 29 on a ventilator;
- June 20: 148 new cases, 299 hospitalized, 59 in ICU 30 on a ventilator.
The CDC says any county that is in the “substantial” or “high” risk range meets the level that the CDC recommends for indoor masking — even for people who are vaccinated.
Here’s a county-by-county list for New Jersey:
- Atlantic: High
- Bergen: High
- Burlington: High
- Camden: High
- Cape May: High
- Cumberland: High
- Essex: High
- Gloucester: High
- Hudson: High
- Hunterdon: High
- Mercer: High
- Middlesex: High
- Monmouth: High
- Morris: High
- Ocean: High
- Passaic: High
- Salem: High
- Somerset: High
- Sussex: High
- Union: High
- Warren: High
