Was the coronavirus New Jersey's leading cause of death in 2020?

On Dec. 31, New Jersey ended 2020 with an official coronavirus toll of 19,042 confirmed and probable coronavirus deaths. That is higher than is typically recorded annually by even heart disease and cancer, according to a comparison of average deaths from 2014-19.

COVID-19 deaths are based on lab-confirmed and probable state totals. Other causes of death represent 2014-2019 averages.
Chart: Riley Yates, NJ Advance Media Source: New Jersey Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Get the data