State reports another 49 virus deaths
TRENTON » New Jersey is reporting another 49 deaths associated with COVID-19 in the state, pushing the number of deaths associated with the virus to 13,578.
Gov. Phil Murphy said Saturday that more than 430 new positive cases had been reported, pushing the cumulative total to almost 175,000.
The governor on Friday reported 31 additional deaths associated with the coronavirus and more than 300 new cases. Officials have said that nearly 2,000 additional deaths in the state were likely caused by the virus since the pandemic started earlier this year.
The state also on Friday highlighted a slight drop in the positivity rate and the rate of transmission, which measure the rate of the virus’s spread. Fewer than 90 people were said to be on ventilators as of Saturday, a day after Murphy said the number had dropped below 100 for the first time in “many, many weeks, maybe months.”
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms. Older adults and people with existing health problems are at higher risk of more severe illness or death.
New Jersey lawmakers are to take up next week a plan to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and the state’s Democrat-controlled Legislature have agreed on a measure that would allow the state to borrow up to roughly $10 billion to address the financial crisis caused by the pandemic. Republican lawmakers have vowed to sue, arguing that such a borrowing plan would lead to statewide property tax hikes, a charge Murphy has dismissed.
Gas prices up
Gas prices ticked up again in New Jersey and around the nation due to a dip in demand and an increase in supply following the holiday weekend.
AAA Mid-Atlantic says the average price of a gallon of regular gas in New Jersey on Friday was up a penny to $2.17. Drivers were paying $2.81 a gallon at this time last year.
The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline was up two pennies to $2.19. The national average was $2.75 at this time a year ago.
Analysts say reports of increasing coronavirus cases in some states may cause demand for gasoline to fluctuate in the coming weeks, and that could impact pump prices.