Gov. Phil Murphy continues to urge all New Jersey residents to continue to practice social distancing efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

State health officials reported 430 new positive cases of the virus on Wednesday, along with seven additional deaths. Officials say that the rate of transmission in the state stands at 1.15.

There are currently 459 people in the hospital with the coronavirus – 228 people are being tested and not yet confirmed to be positive. There are 90 COVID-19 patients in intensive care and 31 people on ventilators.

"We want therapeutics, they’re going to come I’m sure. We want a vaccine, it will come I’m sure. But we have neither right now. We're left with the basics - we've got to continue to lean on those basics,” Murphy said. “Look at what's happening in Great Britain with restrictions back in place. I desperately hope we don't have to do that here. And the more we keep up with our new routines, the more we have a chance that we keep our numbers low and dropping and keep moving forward."

New Brunswick-based Johnson & Johnson is beginning its final stage of clinical trials for its coronavirus vaccine. The company will have the largest clinical trial with about 60,000 volunteers around the world.

There are other vaccines already in final testing. Unlike the others, Johnson & Johnson says its vaccine won't need to be frozen and could only require one dose instead of two.