Amid peak county fair season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the year’s first human infection with a flu virus that usually spreads in pigs.
The current rate of transmission is at 1.28, which indicates an active spread of the virus. For every 100 infected people, they will infect 128 additional individuals.
In what may be the strongest indicator yet that the latest omicron fueled wave of COVID infections is waning, the state's rate of transmission (r/t) has dropped below 1.0.
Within New Jersey, the highest case rates are in the counties the CDC flags as having high transmission rates – in order, Cape May, Monmouth, Burlington, Cumberland and Camden.
For now, New Jersey's mask mandate imposed by Gov. Phil Murphy through executive order remains in effect. Murphy has been reluctant to ease mask mandates and his office is reviewing the new CDC guidance.