COVID Spread Drops Further In Mercer County, But By How Much?

Princeton NJ

11 February, 2022

4:14 PM

Description

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Since the peak of the omicron surge, the spread of the coronavirus has reduced further in Mercer County. As of Friday, Mercer County reported 89 positive COVID-19 cases, a 46 percent decrease from last week, when the County reported 166 positive cases. But the County also reported nine deaths — seven new lab-confirmed and two hospital reported. For the first time in months, the New Jersey Department of Health downgraded Mercer County's COVID-19 activity level from "high" to "moderate," in its most recent weekly activity report. At the "moderate" risk level, between 1-10 out of every 100,000 people were estimated to have the virus. The number of patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 in New Jersey hospitals also declined in recent weeks. The state's previously rising COVID hospitalization total peaked at 6,089 patients on Jan. 11. As of Friday, the hospitalization rate in Central Jersey was 556. As COVID-19 cases continue to drop across the state, New Jersey decided to drop its statewide mask mandate for schools, effective March 7. Gov. Phil Murphy set the date for a month from now, to give school districts time to figure out adjustments. The state will allow individual school districts and daycare centers to maintain masking requirements after that date. Meanwhile, with COVID-19 spread risk lowered, Princeton University lifted many campus restrictions that were in place earlier. Students are no longer are limited to 20 guests in their dormitory suites or rooms, but guests must participate in the University's asymptomatic testing program. Indoor gatherings can now include food and attendees can remove their masks while eating or drinking. The Garden State no longer mandates face coverings in most places. But even after March 7, there will still be some settings — and cities — where New Jerseyans still need to carry a mask because of mandates from the municipal to federal levels of government. Read More: With School Mandate Ending, Where Are Masks Required In NJ? Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email [email protected] Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news.