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N.J. Reports First Death From Coronavirus, 15 Total Cases

New Jersey reported its first death from the new coronavirus, a 69-year-old man from Bergen County.

N.J. Reports First Death From Coronavirus, 15 Total Cases
A pedestrian wears a protective mask while walking in New York, U.S. (Photographer: Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg)

(Bloomberg) -- New Jersey reported its first death from the new coronavirus, a 69-year-old man from Bergen County.

The case was one of four new ones announced since March 9, bringing the total number of presumptive positive cases to 15 in New Jersey, Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver said Tuesday at a press briefing.

The man who died, a Little Ferry resident, had a history of diabetes, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, gastrointestinal bleeding and emphysema, according to Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli. He had no international travel, but a recent history of back-and-forth trips to New York.

He was admitted to Hackensack University Medical Center on March 6 and treated with antibiotics. On Monday night he suffered cardiac arrest and was revived, but couldn’t be revived after a second arrest this morning, Persichilli said.

The other new cases were one in Teaneck, Bergen County, and two in Riverton, Burlington County, according to Alexandra Altman, a spokesperson for Governor Phil Murphy. Details about those patients weren’t available, as local health officials were interviewing them. The state has 31 patients under investigation for possible exposure, Persichilli said.

To contact the reporters on this story: Stacie Sherman in Princeton at sbabula@bloomberg.net;Elise Young in Trenton at eyoung30@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Flynn McRoberts at fmcroberts1@bloomberg.net, Stacie Sherman, Elizabeth Campbell

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