A Passaic County mayor says eight residents of a nursing home have died from COVID-19, as the total number of deaths in the state approached 200.

Wanaque Mayor Michael Mahler said in a letter on the town's website that the borough nurse notified him that the deaths occurred at the Lakeland nursing home. Mahler also says that other residents and staff members also were infected.

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The announcement comes as Gov. Phil Murphy said the number of positive cases in the state was nearly 17,000, and that there were 198 deaths so far, up from 161.