Essex Co.’s Cases Remain In COVID ‘Red Zone:’ See Town Updates – Patch.com

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

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

Essex County reported 45,417 cases on Saturday, an increase of more than 2,409 from the previous 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.

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 provided the following breakdown of cases by town:

  • Belleville 3003
  • Bloomfield 2847
  • Caldwell 296
  • Cedar Grove 863
  • East Orange 3660 3690
  • Essex Fells 102
  • Fairfield 481
  • Glen Ridge 154
  • Irvington 2547
  • Livingston 1018
  • Maplewood 652
  • Millburn 402
  • Montclair 1127
  • Newark 20559 20671
  • North Caldwell 207
  • Nutley 1420
  • Orange 1901
  • Roseland 245
  • South Orange 361
  • Verona 443
  • West Caldwell 544
  • West Orange 2585