New Jersey on Saturday reported five new COVID-19 deaths across the state and 2,154 new confirmed positive tests as hospitalization rates continue to increase over the weekend. The state’s seven-day average for confirmed cases was 1,749 Saturday, up 2% from a week ago, and up 128% from a month ago. There were 461 patients with confirmed or suspected coronavirus cases across 70 of the state’s 71 hospitals as of Friday night. One hospital did not report data. Hospitalizations this year hit a peak at 6,089 on Jan. 10 during the omicron wave that spread across the state this winter. There were at …