New Jersey on Thursday reported another 35 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and 1,459 confirmed cases, while the number of coronavirus patients on ventilators statewide dropped below 100 for the first time in nearly three months. The state’s seven-day average for confirmed positive coronavirus tests dropped to 1,176, down 31% from a week ago and 87% from a month ago as numbers are now at levels before the recent surge driven by the omicron variant started in early December. The update comes a day after Gov. Phil Murphy announced he will end his regular coronavirus briefings on March 4, the second ann…