NJ Top News 2/9 – Ocean County Has Nearly Half of NJ’s COVID Mutant Cases

New Jersey continues to see an increase in the number of cases involving a COVID-19 mutation.

Public health officials confirm 31 cases have been positively identified in 11 counties. All are believed to be the mutation first detected in the United Kingdom. The U.K. variant can be up to 70% more contagious than the original strain. There is also growing concern it could be more deadly.

Initially, it was not believed to cause more severe symptoms, but there us initial medical data that suggested that may not be the case. There is also evidence the mutation is resistant to current vaccines. Vaccine makers have already begun development and testing of modified vaccines to combat these mutations.

Of the 11 New Jersey counties where the U.K. variant has been found, Ocean County had the highest number of infections at 12. The Murphy administration has confirmed one death from the mutated virus. Of those infected, at least three had recently traveled. Health officials have not said how often they are testing for mutations like the one from the U.K. or if they are also testing for strains that were first detected in South Africa and Brazil.

Mutations in viruses are common. The COVID virus has already mutated thousands of times. In most cases, the mutations have no real impact on transmission or treatment. However, some of the mutations will develop over time that can make the virus more aggressive, dangerous and resistant to vaccines and treatments. That is what we are seeing with these named mutations.

It is also why White House Chief Medical Advisor. Anthony Fauci says it is critical to speed up the pace of vaccinations. If there are fewer hosts for the virus to infect, it will not have the opportunity to mutate.

New Jersey passed a million doses of vaccine given on Monday, but of that total, just 224,000 have been given their second dose for full immunity. That is less than 5% of the state's goal of 4.7 million adults vaccinated.

Gov. Phil Murphy expressed confidence the state would reach that goal by summer in order to return to some sense of normalcy. He told Harry Hurley on WPG he expected the state would reach it's vaccination goal in time for things like beach concerts and the Atlantic City Air Show to go on. That is contingent on a dramatic increase in the amount of vaccine being delivered to New Jersey, which Murphy expects to happen in the next few weeks.

More N.J. Top News:

• Multiple storms bringing more snow in the days ahead.
• Gov. Murphy believes the state will return to some normalcy by summer, reaching vaccination goals.
• The COVID-19 outbreak continues to shrink with the state's "rate of transmission" now at .85.
• The New Jersey Vaccine Call Center has started to schedule a limited number of vaccine appointments.
• CVS will start making appointments in New Jersey on Thursday.
• The teacher's union is calling for the cancellation of all standardized testing in New Jersey this year.
• CURE auto insurance is apologizing for it's Super Bowl ad mocking sexual harassment in the workplace.
• Congress begins piecing together a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill, including $1,400 direct payments. Tax relief for NJ remains in limbo.
• State lawmakers are advancing multiple measures to increase access to mental healthcare.
• New Jersey gamblers wagered $117.4 million dollars on the Super Bowl, and won $106 million. Total bets increased 116% from last year.

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