Mercer County's Cases In COVID 'Red Zone:' See Town Updates

Princeton NJ

12 December, 2020

5:05 PM

Description

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — The coronavirus continues to take a grim toll on Mercer County, impacting local business and schools in the region, according to updated state data. The state Department of Health's most recent "COVID-19 Activity Level Report," which is issued weekly, says Mercer County is in the "red zone" for coronavirus cases. According to recent data, Mercer County reported 184 new cases, taking the total to 15,621 positive cases. Previous week, the county reported 14,531 cumulative cases and 632 deaths. The "red zone" means the daily new COVID-19 virus case rate, per 100,000 people, rose to "very high" in all 21 counties. That means they exceed 25 cases per 1,000 people. The latest reports say the overall coronavirus activity level also rose from "moderate," or "yellow," to "high," or "orange," in recent weeks in all 21 New Jersey counties. With the rise to a "high" level, state officials said, school districts in those counties may have to take more serious steps — such as quarantining or even shutting down schools — if a child shows the symptoms of COVID-19. "When it is high risk, there are some recommendations that we make together with local school boards," said Edward Lifshitz, medical director for the state Department of Health. Indeed, a number of school districts have shifted to remote instruction as the numbers have risen. The overall coronavirus risk rose to "high" in each of the counties because: The new daily case rate in each of the counties rose to 10 or more per 100,000 people. The percent of COVID-19-like illnesses rose above 5.52 in each of the counties. The percent of positive cases rose above 10.01. Mercer County officials provided the following breakdown of cases by town: East Windsor Daily cases: 15 Total cases: 1,190 Ewing Township Daily cases: 17 Total cases: 1, 579 Hamilton Township Daily cases: 38 Total cases: 4,065 Hightstown Boro Daily cases: 4 Total cases: 289 Hopewell Boro Daily cases: 0 Total cases: 20 Hopewell Township Daily cases: 5 Total cases: 391 Lawrence Township Daily cases: 14 Total cases: 1,033 Pennington Boro Daily cases: 1 Total cases: 41 Princeton Daily cases: 3 Total cases: 398 Robbinsville Township Daily cases: 4 Total cases: 404 Trenton City Daily cases: 43 Total cases: 5,462 West Windsor Township Daily cases: 7 Total cases: 444 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.