On a day the state reported an incredible 27,975 new cases, the number of New Jerseyans hospitalized with COVID-19 jumped to 3,604 — an increase of more than 10%.
The state, which has seen hospitalizations increase 36% since Monday, now appears poised to top the high mark for the year (3,743) which was set Jan. 5 — a few weeks after the state administered its first shot of the vaccine.
While the Omicron variant, which is causing the surge, is believed to be less severe than previous COVID-19 strains, the numbers are astonishing.
If the number of hospitalizations continues in the fashion it has the past 10 days, the state conceivably could top 4,000 hospitalizations by the end of the year. Topping 3,873 — the highest mark during last winter’s surge — certainly appears to be in reach, too.
The number of people in intensive care and on ventilators continues to climb, too.
- Ventilators: 267 — the highest since there were 270 on Feb. 25.
- Intensive care: 544 — the highest since Feb. 8 (also 544).
The number of confirmed cases also continues to skyrocket. The state said there were 27,975 new cases Thursday — with 7,387 probable new cases.
Just a week ago, the state set a new record with 9,711 new cases — the first time it had been over 7,000 (although the numbers at the beginning of the pandemic are uncertain).
Gov. Phil Murphy, who left for an eight-day vacation in Costa Rica on Dec. 22, is expected to return to the state Thursday. It is unclear if he will release a statement regarding the rapid rise in cases.
The number of people hospitalized has been rising steadily since Thanksgiving, when only 825 people were hospitalized. Here are the milestone days since:
- Top 1,000: Nov. 30 (1,046)
- Top 1,500: Dec. 10 (1,526)
- Top 2,000: Dec. 21 (2,034)
- Top 2,500: Monday (2,654)
- Top 3,000: Wednesday (3,273)
- Top 3,500: Thursday (3,604)
The number of confirmed cases continues to climb rapidly:
- Thursday: 27,975
- Wednesday: 20,483
- Tuesday: 11,889
- Monday: 8,831
- Sunday: 12,538
- Saturday: 16,626
- Friday: 15,482
- Thursday: 9,711
- Wednesday: 6,840
This metric differs from hospitalizations, which had been on a slow increase until today:
- Thursday: 3,604
- Wednesday: 3,273
- Tuesday: 2,979
- Monday: 2,654
- Sunday: 2,462
- Saturday: 2,375
- Friday: 2,241
- Thursday: 2,100
- Wednesday: 2,034
