New Jersey health officials say two of the eight new “presumptive" cases may have been the result of "community spread."

 

According to New Jersey's health commissioner, two of Wednesday’s newest cases were the result of “community spread,” defined as "person-to-person transmission without exposure to a confirmed case."

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State health officials say they don't yet have enough information to identify which two of the eight cases are “community spread,” but they're working to find out.

 

Health officials say of the eight new cases, four of them are from Bergen County, two from Monmouth County, and two from Middlesex County, including a 74-year-old man in Edison. The man recently returned from a cruise with his wife, who is now being tested.

The total sits at 23, but health officials don't exactly know how those two people contracted coronavirus.

“Our lab is busy testing specimens,” says Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. “We have the capacity at our state lab to test 400 specimens. In order to fulfill that requirement, we have added new staff and additional equipment.”

If the two possible “community spread” cases are confirmed by the CDC, there could be tougher restrictions put in place.

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