State health officials said Wednesday they’ve identified two new positive cases of the coronavirus in New Jersey that could possibly be a result of “community spread."

The news comes as the number of cases in the state has increased by eight, bringing the statewide total to 23 positive tests with one death.

“Simply put, community spread is defined as person-to-person transmission without exposure to a confirmed case,” state Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said at a news conference in Ewing.

“Community spread indicates that the coronavirus is amongst us,” Persichilli added. “We have an expectation that that may be the case.”

People in areas where there is community spread “are at elevated risk of exposure,” according to the federal Centers for Disease Control.

Four of the new cases identified Wednesday are in Bergen County, two in Middlesex County and two in Monmouth County, officials said. The age range of those cases is 17 to 74 years old.

The new cases are:

• A 66-year-old woman from Hazlet Township

• A 17-year-old girl from Little Silver

• A 58-year-old woman from East Brunswick

• A 74-year-old man from Edison Township

• A 33-year-old man from Teaneck

• A 30-year-old man from Teaneck

• A 29-year-old man from Bergenfield

• A 35-year-old man from Bergenfield

Persichilli said she didn’t have enough details yet to identify the county or counties where the two possible cases of community spread infected people live.

Officials are still investigating the cases.

“We just don’t have enough information,” Persichilli said. “Contact tracing takes a while and it relies on the condition of the patient.”

She added: “As I’ve said in the past, this is a rapidly evolving situation.”

If it’s determined the new cases are the result of community spread, or if community spread cases increase, it could prompt the state officials to take tougher mitigation efforts, such as closing schools, for example, Persichilli said.

Officials again warned people most at risk for catching the illness caused by the virus, COVID-19, such as the elderly and people with preexisting health issues, to be extra cautious.

They also recommended that all longterm care facilities should screen and restrict visitors.

COVID-19 — the illness caused by the virus — has sickened more than 1,000 people nationwide and led to at least 31 deaths, according to NYTimes.com. One of the new cases announced Wednesday is a 44-year-old Teaneck man, officials in the town confirmed. The state’s first death, a 69-year-old man with previous health conditions, took place in Bergen County.

On Tuesday, officials said a 69-year-old Little Ferry man, later identified as horse trainer John Brennan died Tuesday at Hackensack University Medical Center. Brennan had pre-existing health conditions including diabetes, hypertension and emphysema. He was revived from an initial cardiac arrest Monday, officials said, but died after a second cardiac arrest Tuesday.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.

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