VIRUS UPDATE: DATA SHOWS IMPROVEMENT

The pace of new deaths from COVID-19 appeared to slow and other indicators also suggested improvement, data released by Governor Phil Murphy’s administration showed Sunday.

The state health department’s COVID-19 online database reported 132 new deaths, down 231 from Saturday’s update, which followed a string of daily reports of more than 300 each.

The losses included 5 more deaths in Monmouth County, bringing its total to 226.

At the same time, the number of deaths associated with longterm care facilities in the county rose by 9, to 130, the state website indicated. No immediate explanation was offered for the disparity, though officials have said in the past that figures are subject to adjustment as additional information becomes available.

Murphy has been holding press briefings on the crisis six days a week, taking Sundays off.

While the number of new COVID-19 positive test results rose, the state’s website showed apparent improvement in other metrics: hospitalizations, discharges and the numbers of patients in critical care and on ventilators.

Here are the latest statewide COVID-19 figures:

Deaths in the monthlong pandemic: 4,202, up 132 from Saturday

Positive tests: 85,301, up 3,881

Patients in hospitals: 7,495, down 223

Patients in intensive/critical care: 1,930, down 94

Patients on ventilators: 1,628, down 13, to 52.3 percent of capacity

Patients discharged in preceding 24 hours: 780, down 34

In Monmouth County, the state reported 226 deaths so far.

The county government reported 4,669 positive cases Sunday, a one-day increase of 141.

Here’s by-town breakdown:

• Aberdeen: 131
• Allenhurst: 2
• Allentown: 4
• Asbury Park: 94
• Atlantic Highlands: 18
• Avon-by-the-Sea: 9
• Belmar: 13
• Bradley Beach: 22
• Brielle: 22
• Colts Neck: 55
• Deal: 23
• Eatontown: 135
• Englishtown: 19
• Fair Haven: 18, unchanged
• Farmingdale: 9
• Freehold Borough: 167
• Freehold Township: 408
• Hazlet: 174
• Highlands: 20
• Holmdel: 150
• Howell: 410
• Interlaken: 1
• Keansburg: 79
• Keyport: 55
• Lake Como: 12
• Little Silver: 26, up 2
• Loch Arbour: 1
• Long Branch: 266
• Manalapan: 327
• Manasquan: 24
• Marlboro: 315
• Matawan: 116
• Middletown: 369
• Millstone: 54
• Monmouth Beach: 17
• Neptune City: 24
• Neptune Township: 243
• Ocean: 188
• Oceanport: 41
• Red Bank: 97, up 3
• Roosevelt: 2
• Rumson: 27
• Sea Bright: 7
• Sea Girt: 9
• Shrewsbury Borough: 25
• Shrewsbury Township: 7
• Spring Lake: 7
• Spring Lake Heights: 15
• Tinton Falls: 102
• Union Beach: 30
• Upper Freehold: 32
• Wall: 166
• West Long Branch: 51
• Unknown: 31