New Jersey now has at least 890 known coronavirus cases statewide, including 11 deaths, as officials announced 155 new positive tests during an update on the outbreak Friday that included an indication Gov. Phil Murphy would order the closure of all non-essential businesses in the state as early as Saturday.

State officials said they expect the number of cases to rise in the coming days, likely into the thousands, especially as testing expands. Murphy said the state is “many weeks away from the peak” of the outbreak.

“We will see more cases in the coming weeks — a lot more cases,” said state Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said during the state’s daily coronavirus briefing, held at Bergen Community College in Paramus. “We expect a surge in cases that will stress the healthcare system significantly.”

The 11 deaths included two new fatalities — a 37-year-old man from Essex County and a 52-year-old man from Bergen County. Persichilli said nine of the 11 cases involved patients with underlying health conditions, while the other two deaths remain under investigation.

“Diabetes is in almost every single individual,” Persichilli said.

The state has not revealed how many people in the state that have contracted the virus have recovered.

Murphy said he believed the number of new positive tests was likely lighter Friday due to some delays in reporting. He also implored residents not to panic.

“Expanding testing is absolutely critical,” the governor said. “The more testing we implement, the better we will be able to track the scope.”

The latest increase in cases was announced the same day the first government-run drive-thru testing site opened up in Bergen County, which continues to have the most residents who have tested positive.

The center — at Bergen Community College — quickly hit capacity after just four hours of operation and cars were turned away. The site can collect up to 2,500 specimens a week, state officials said.

Murphy also urged residents to continue observing the social distancing efforts already in place and suggested he may “tighten the screws further" on Saturday — including ordering the shutdown non-essential businesses.

“If you are not needed as part of our response efforts, stay home," Murphy said. “Social distancing is job number one.”

There are now cases in every New Jersey county except Salem County, though 98 cases remain under investigation.

Bergen County: 249

Middlesex County: 76

Essex County: 73

Hudson County: 66

Monmouth County: 53

Ocean County: 49

Passaic County: 49

Union County: 43

Morris County: 35

Somerset County: 28

Mercer County: 22

Burlington County: 17

Camden County: 11

Hunterdon County: 11

Atlantic County: 3

Gloucester County: 3

Sussex County: 3

Warren County: 3

Cape May County: 1

Cumberland County: 1

Murphy said the state collected specimens from 600 people at the Bergen testing center before it hit capacity. The center will reopen Saturday at 8 a.m. with the ability to collect another 350 specimens for testing. Officials previously said the site could do 2,500 tests a week.

Another state-run center supported by FEMA is slated to open at PNC Arts Center in Monmouth County on Monday at 8 a.m., Murphy said.

The deaths in New Jersey have included family that has been devastated with the outbreak, with at least four people of the Fusco family having died by Thursday night and at least two more in critical condition. One of those deaths was in Pennsylvania.

The state’s response to the outbreak has been unprecedented. Murphy has already instituted sweeping new restrictions in New Jersey to combat the outbreak, including the closure of all public and private schools and the shutdown of casinos, dine-in restaurant service, theaters, gyms, and indoor shopping malls, and a suggested curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Plus, he has limited public gatherings to no more than 50 people.

Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey:





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

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters.