New Jersey on Thursday reported another 1,981 confirmed COVID-19 cases and eight confirmed deaths as state’s seven-day average for confirmed coronavirus positive rose to 1,746 – a 5% increase from a week ago and a 2% increase from a month ago. The rate of transmission was 1.16 on Thursday, up from 1.13 on Tuesday and 1.04 last week. When the transmission rate is 1, that means cases have leveled off at the current numbers, while anything above 1 indicates the outbreak is expanding. TheU.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention deems 12 counties in the state to have “medium” community level…