Middlesex Co.'s COVID Cases Remain 'Very High:' See Town Updates

Woodbridge NJ

19 December, 2020

8:10 PM

Description

The coronavirus continues to take a grim toll on Middlesex County, impacting local businesses and schools in the region, according to updated state data (see town-by-town totals below). The state Department of Health's most recent "COVID-19 Activity Level Report," which is issued weekly, says Middlesex County is still in the "red zone" for coronavirus cases. As of Friday, Middlesex County reported 344 new cases, taking the cumulative total to 39,220. The previous week, the number of positive cases were 36,787, so there were 2,433 new positives in one week. 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 over a seven-day average. 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. As of Dec. 18, here is the Middlesex County coronavirus breakdown by towns: Carteret 12 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours1,491 Reported Total Cases1 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours34 Reported Total Deaths East Brunswick 21 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours1,501 Reported Total Cases0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours66 Reported Total Deaths Edison 63 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours4,191 Reported Total Cases0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours255 Reported Total Deaths Highland Park 8 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours452 Reported Total Cases0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours10 Reported Total Deaths Metuchen 3 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours384 Reported Total Cases0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours5 Reported Total Deaths Middlesex 6 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours756 Reported Total Cases0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours23 Reported Total Deaths New Brunswick 30 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours3,333 Reported Total Cases0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours85 Reported Total Deaths North Brunswick 45 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours2,191 Reported Total Cases0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours63 Reported Total Deaths Old Bridge 25 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours3,017 Reported Total Cases2 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours93 Reported Total Deaths South Brunswick 19 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours1,208 Reported Total Cases0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours37 Reported Total Deaths South River 8 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours799 Reported Total Cases0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours11 Reported Total Deaths Spotswood 2 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours310 Reported Total Cases0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours9 Reported Total Deaths Woodbridge 52 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours5,845 Reported Total Cases0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours160 Reported Total Deaths See all the Middlesex County towns here: https://discovermiddlesex.com/...