New Jersey reports 460 coronavirus deaths, highest single-day death toll

New Jersey reported its highest one-day death toll during the coronavirus pandemic so far, Gov. Phil Murphy (D) announced Thursday.

Murphy reported “with the heaviest of hearts” 460 people died from the coronavirus on Wednesday in the state, surpassing Monday’s 402 fatalities. The boost brings the state’s total death toll from the virus to 7,228 people. 

“The people we remember here every day are the faces of COVID-19,” he said. “They are not and they should never be seen as just numbers on a chart.”

“It is for them that we will continue this fight and that we will win this fight,” he added. 

The New Jersey governor reported 2,633 new cases were confirmed on Wednesday, bringing New Jersey’s total to 118,652.

We’ve lost an additional 460 New Jerseyans to #COVID19, bringing our total of loss of life to 7,228.
• Atlantic: 41
• Bergen: 1,136
• Burlington: 130
• Camden: 147
• Cape May: 22
• Cumberland: 12
• Essex: 1,186
• Gloucester: 46
• Hudson: 798
• Hunterdon: 29

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 30, 2020

The number of people on ventilators in the hospital is at its lowest point since April 4, with 1,271 patients on ventilators. The number of patients in the intensive care unit has also seen a downward trend. 

Murphy made the somber announcement hours after meeting with President Trump to request federal aid for the state, The New York Times reported. Trump was noncommittal to Murphy’s request of $20 billion to $30 billion in aid, instead focusing on praising the governor. 

At his press conference, the governor announced the state’s Department of Corrections will provide universal testing inmates and staff starting as early as next week. 

New Jersey has been the second-most affected state in the country, behind New York, which has recorded 304,372 coronavirus cases and 18,321 deaths, according to the state health department.