Essex County COVID-19 Cases Remain ‘Very High:’ See Town Updates – Patch.com

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The coronavirus continues to take a toll on Essex County, impacting local businesses and schools in the region, according to updated state data (see the town-by-town list below).

The state Department of Health’s most recent “COVID-19 Activity Level Report,” which is issued weekly, said that Essex County is in the “red zone” for its coronavirus case rate.

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.

Essex County reported 43,008 cumulative cases on Friday, an increase of 2,898 over the previous week. The county reported 2,082 cumulative deaths linked to COVID-19, an increase of 24 over the previous week. (See totals by town below)

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.

Essex County officials released cumulative COVID-19 totals for each town and city on Friday, noting that their daily report may not match state or municipal totals (here’s why).

Patch has included the U.S. Census’ most recent population estimates for each municipality.

  • Belleville – 2,803 cases, 78 deaths (population: 36,497)
  • Bloomfield – 2,663 cases, 88 deaths (population: 49,973)
  • Caldwell – 266 cases, 11 deaths (population: 7,941)
  • Cedar Grove – 824 cases, 118 deaths (population: 12,489)
  • East Orange – 3,502 cases, 244 deaths (population: 64,367)
  • Essex Fells – 88 cases, 2 deaths (population: 2,085)
  • Fairfield – 449 cases, 23 deaths (population: 7,474)
  • Glen Ridge – 144 cases, 9 deaths (population: 7,574)
  • Irvington – 2,449 cases, 172 deaths (population: 54,312)
  • Livingston – 980 cases, 75 deaths (population: 30,303)
  • Maplewood – 617 cases, 29 deaths (population: 25,380)
  • Millburn – 385 cases, 7 deaths (population: 20,080)
  • Montclair – 1,071 cases, 53 deaths (population: 38,564)
  • Newark – 19,535 cases, 740 deaths (population: 282,011)
  • North Caldwell – 187 cases, 6 deaths (population: 6,621)
  • Nutley – 1,315 cases, 42 deaths (population: 28,434)
  • Orange – 1,812 cases, 100 deaths (population: 30,551)
  • Roseland – 234 cases, 15 deaths (population: 5,835)
  • South Orange – 331 cases, 6 deaths (population: 16,691)
  • Verona – 407 cases, 15 deaths (population: 13,390)
  • West Caldwell – 500 cases, 50 deaths (population: 10,837)
  • West Orange – 2,446 cases, 199 deaths (population: 47,563)

This article also contains reporting by Tom Davis, Patch staff

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