New Jersey records first death caused by coronavirus

The first death attributed coronavirus in New Jersey was a male in his 60s from Bergen County, state officials announced Tuesday.

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“We are sad to report the first death in a case of COVID-19 in New Jersey,” Gov. Phil Murphy and Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver said in a joint statement. “Our prayers are with the family during this difficult time. We remain vigilant to doing all we can — across all levels of government — to protect the people of New Jersey.”

As of late Tuesday evening, New Jersey had 15 presumed coronavirus cases, including three in South Jersey, according to the state Department of Health. Cases are considered presumptive until the U.S. Centers for Disease Control confirms the results.

New Jersey currently has 20 tests in progress and another 31 people under investigation, according to the health department. Another 44 residents have tested negative for coronavirus.

More than 118,000 people worldwide have tested positive for the coronavirus, including more than 4,200 deaths, according to The New York Times. The majority of cases and deaths have occurred in China, but the virus has spread to more than 100 countries.

Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan particularly have been hit hard by coronavirus. There are more than 950 coronavirus cases in the U.S., including 29 deaths.

Coronavirus symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Most cases are mild, but a serious illness occurs in about 16% of cases, according to initial data from China. The incubation period is believed to be 2-14 days.

Older people and those with underlying health conditions, including heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, appear to be at greater risk for developing a serious illness, according to the CDC.

There is no known treatment for COVID-19 and a vaccine is expected to take at least a year to develop.

Health experts stress that the best way to prevent illness is to practice good hand hygiene, avoid close contact with sick individuals and frequently disinfect common surfaces and objects.