"The good news is 367 persons were discharged yesterday but another 507 COVID positive residents were right there to fill those beds and were admitted," said Governor Phil Murphy on Wednesday.
Data on hospitalizations and deaths shows the virus sickened and killed more people during the holidays.
According to 6abc's data team, currently, 3,129 New Jersyans are hospitalized for COVID-19 and those admission rates are growing.
Pennsylvania's hospitalization trends surpassed New Jersey's with 4,744 patients hospitalized. Those numbers are also growing fast.
"It is critical right now. We don't expect the peak filled at least mid or late December given travel and Thanksgiving. We're still expecting (it) to go up," said Dr. Rohit Gulati, the chief medical officer of Einstein Healthcare Network in Philadelphia. He says they currently have more COVID patients than they did in the spring but now they are more prepared from equipment to logistics.
"The fewer people in our hospitals, the less stress and strain on our health care system. The less chance that one of our doctors, nurses, EMTs, and medical professionals contract this virus," added Murphy.
On Wednesday, 4,350 new COVID-19 cases were reported, bringing the state's total to 346, 206.
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