Through the first 14 weeks of 2020 (the period ending 04/04/20), the US death rate has actually dropped significantly over the same time period in 2019:
That means that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer Americans are dying overall. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for NJ:
Because the epidemic has hit the Garden State much harder than most of the country, our death rate is soaring. Figures for New York State show an even steeper jump.