47 More Coronavirus Fatalities, One Of Deadliest Days In Bergen

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The county that has been at the center of the outbreak of the new coronavirus since the earliest cases were announced in New Jersey has had one of the deadliest days so far, as state officials announced 47 more fatalities on Saturday.

Bergen County now has 179 deaths as a result of the outbreak, and there have been 5,760 positive cases of the virus that causes the respiratory illness COVID-19, state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said.

Overall, there are now 34,124 positive cases in New Jersey, and 846 people have died from complications caused by the virus, according to state officials. There have been 41,232 negative tests reported to the state so far by health care facilities and private labs, just shy of 55 percent.

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The statewide fatalities now exceed the number of residents who died during the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Gov. Phil Murphy said at Saturday's news conference. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

The continued increase in both deaths and positive cases is being viewed by Murphy and state officials as the beginning of the surge that has been predicted to happen, and comes as health care facilities are stressed by a need for additional health care workers.

The state continues to put out calls for assistance and volunteers to help meet the needs of patients being treated not only for the vurus but for any other health emergency.

Testing at Bergen County Community College is continuing and the testing site will accept members of the public who are symptomatic beginning at 8 a.m. on Sunday and will continute testing until the day's allotment of 500 tests runs out, Murphy said.

In addition to the needs for health care workers, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco is urging county residents to start using cloth coverings over their noses and mouths when they have to be out in public as added protection against the virus.

"As the number of positive COVID-19 cases continues to increase there is a greater need to protect the residents of Bergen County," Tedesco said in a Facebook post. He noted new guidelines issued by the CDC about wearing face coverings, saying, "the CDC reported that many individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms and that even those who eventually develop symptoms can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms."

"In light of this new evidence, the CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission." Tedesco wrote.

The use of simple cloth face coverings can help prevent spreading the virus if you have it and do not know it, and the can be made from household items or made at home from common materials.

"This new guideline has significant implications for our health care workers, who are on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 and are lacking the PPE they need," he said. "At this time, I am recommending that the community use personal face protection, when going out in public. Your assistance in promoting the usage of cloth face coverings is warranted."

Bergen County saw 45 deaths announced on Thursday in the county. Every municipality in the county has at least one case of the virus. The county has been awarded $8.3 million in federal funding to help mitigate the financial impact of the crisis.