See Maplewood’s New Covid Stats; Essex County On ‘Red Zone’ List – Patch.com

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The White House Coronavirus Task Force said last week that Essex County was among nine New Jersey counties in the “red zone” when it came to the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak in November. Red zones have more than 100 new cases per 100,000 residents and a diagnostic test positivity result of above 10 percent.

  • August: 17
  • September: 16
  • October: 44
  • November: 135

As of Sunday morning, according to the county of Essex, the town has seen 561 cases since the start of the pandemic, including three new cases confirmed since the day before (a Saturday), and 27 deaths. The most recent Maplewood fatality was in August.

On the last day of November, Essex County had reported the total for Maplewood as 534, so there have been 27 new cases so far in December.

At the height of the crisis in New Jersey, 460 people died from the virus in 24 hours on April 30. READ MORE: ‘I Cannot Get Air’: When Local Woman Begged For Coronavirus Test

Doctors have said that a number of factors are contributing to the fact that the daily death rate is lower than it was in spring, including people getting test results (and thus treatment) sooner, more protective equipment available in hospitals, and doctors becoming better able to treat the virus. However, the virus still can have long-term effects. And fatalities in New Jersey are starting to rise again.

From last Monday to Tuesday, the state of New Jersey reported 90 new fatalities, the highest daily death rate since July.

Other recent Maplewood coronavirus stories on Patch:

WHERE TO GET TESTED IN ESSEX COUNTY

To get a test:

MAPLEWOOD RESOURCES

Maplewood COVID-19 website: https://www.twp.maplewood.nj.us/covid19

The mayor has given these tips from the Maplewood Public Health Division:

  • If you are having any type of indoor gathering, we encourage people to wear face coverings. Unfortunately, many of our cases can be traced back to small indoor gatherings where masks were not worn.
  • Keep your number of interactions as well as the number of people at a gathering low.
  • Space out your interactions with different people.
  • Do not go anywhere if you’re sick, and do not dismiss it as a cold or allergies, especially if you are in a household where someone is actively quarantining due to exposure to a positive covid case. Most of our cases are among people who were in direct close contact with a positive case.
  • If you have come in direct close contact with a positive case, PLEASE complete the 14-day quarantine, even if you tested negative and feel fine. Several new cases have shown symptoms later — Day 8 to 10 — of their quarantine/ potential incubation period.
  • We cannot stress enough that all of our residents take every precaution against the virus

Here are more Maplewood coronavirus updates:

SCHOOLS

Maplewood’s schools will remain remote until at least January. Find out why here.

LOCAL BUSINESS

  • Restaurants reopened the week of June 15 for outdoor dining.
  • Restaurants are allowed to serve indoors at 25 percent capacity.
  • Starting last month, indoor dining must end at 10 p.m. at all bars and restaurants, tables can be placed closer than 6 feet only if there are plexiglass barriers separating tables, and only take-out and delivery services are permitted after 10 p.m.

NATIONAL TRENDS

HOW TO GET HELP WITH HEAT, RENT, AND MORE

  • During the State of Emergency in New Jersey, no tenant is permitted to be evicted from their home or apartment for the inability to pay rent. Talk to your local mayor’s office if you are experiencing difficulties.
  • The CARES act has made money available to help with rent in each city. More information is here.
  • New Jersey residents can get help with heating and energy bills. Information is here.
  • Various other avenues of relief and benefits have also been made available, including family leave for 12 weeks if you can’t work due to your child’s school or camp being closed, and changes to unemployment rules to help those who were at a job for a short time, or freelancing.
  • Programs are being added constantly, so don’t think you can’t get help. Reach out to your local mayor’s office to find out what kind of funds may be available to help you get through this time.

LONG-TERM CARE

  • Recently, there were 159 long term care facilities with active outbreaks, the state Department of Health said this month. The state also announced that deaths at the facilities had more than doubled since May 1. The state has stopped updating the numbers at facilities without current outbreaks.
  • New Jersey residents were already alarmed at the high number of residents who have passed away in nursing homes, rehabs, and similar facilities. The state announced plans in May to increase testing at some long term care facilities and to bring in the National Guard temporarily to help make changes.
  • The state released death toll statistics late in spring for long-term care facilities like rehabs and nursing homes. See the list here.
  • You can report problems with long term care facilities here, or if you suspect coronavirus related misconduct, here.
  • Some New Jersey long-term care facilities reopened for limited visits, with precautions, in July.

Here are more statewide coronavirus resources:

  • NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/
  • General COVID-19 questions: 2-1-1
  • NJ COVID-19 hotline: (800) 222-1222

Eric Kiefer contributed reporting for this story.

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