The CDC recommends masking in counties with “high” COVID community levels — a metric based on hospitalizations and case rates. The agency updates its color-coded COVID maps each Thursday — this week adding Salem County to the other parts of New Jersey where the CDC already recommends face coverings: Sussex, Morris, Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, Cape May, Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties.
Sixty-nine people in New Jersey died from COVID in the past week, according to the CDC. The state had 823 hospital patients with confirmed or suspected COVID as of Thursday, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

That’s a slight dip from Wednesday’s reported total of 855 with the virus in hospitals. But it’s too early to tell whether that’s a one-day fluctuation or a sign that hospitalizations could decrease further.

New Jersey’s last major surge of hospitalizations came during the omicron wave, when the state peaked at 6,089 COVID hospitalizations on Jan. 11 — close to a pandemic record. The state’s COVID hospitalization total fell to 339 at the end of March but has since more than doubled.

The state averaged 4,798 new cases per day in the past week, according to federal data. Two months ago, New Jersey’s seven-day average was 778 infections per day.

According to the CDC’s prior framework, which prioritized transmission, all of New Jersey has high COVID activity. The agency adopted a new framework in late February that puts less emphasis on transmission but continues to update maps with its prior standards.

The CDC’s mask recommendations don’t trigger mandates. People may also choose to wear masks at any time.

But a few school districts around New Jersey brought back mask requirementsthis week. Gov. Phil Murphy said he doesn’t anticipate bringing the school mask mandate back during this current wave.