New Jersey is currently experiencing high levels of COVID-19 transmission, joining 43 other states in the United States with similar levels of virus spread. This information is based on the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which uses sewage samples to track the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This method helps anticipate local spikes in virus transmission.
The Garden State last recorded a high level of COVID-19 in mid-February. As of the end of August, 483 New Jersey residents have died from COVID-19 this year, with more than half of those victims aged 80 and older.
The most prevalent strains of COVID-19 in New Jersey are Omicron subvariants LB.1 and KP.3.1.1, which make up 48.5 percent of sequenced test results, according to the latest Department of Health report. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization for the latest mRNA vaccines, which have been reformulated to focus on a newer Omicron variant known as KP.2, or FLiRT. The CDC has already recommended this fall’s shot for everyone age 6 months and older.
According to Patch.com, in the past week, 9.7 percent of COVID tests have been positive in New Jersey, compared to 16.3 percent nationally. The latest state data shows that 2.5 percent of hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients, and 1.7 percent of ICU beds.