Essex County Weekly COVID Cases Up 5 Percent: See Town Updates

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County has seen 50,285 cumulative cases of the coronavirus as of Friday, up from the previous week's total of 47,652 — a 5.53 percent increase, according to statistics from the county.

The rise is reflected in the state Department of Health's most recent "COVID-19 Activity Level Report," which is issued weekly. The most recent report, released Thursday, says Essex County is still in the “red zone” for coronavirus cases.

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.

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 – 3,326 cases, 84 deaths (population: 36,497)
• Bloomfield – 3,171 cases, 91 deaths (population: 49,973)
• Caldwell – 334 cases, 12 deaths (population: 7,941)
• Cedar Grove – 961 cases, 119 deaths (population: 12,489)
• East Orange – 4,063 cases, 250 deaths (population: 64,367)
• Essex Fells – 124 cases, 2 deaths (population: 2,085)
• Fairfield – 519 cases, 24 deaths (population: 7,474)
• Glen Ridge – 187 cases, 9 deaths (population: 7,574)
• Irvington – 2,781 cases, 178 deaths (population: 54,312)
• Livingston – 1,111 cases, 79 deaths (population: 30,303)
• Maplewood – 707 cases, 30 deaths (population: 25,380)
• Millburn – 462 cases, 7 deaths (population: 20,080)
• Montclair – 1,262 cases, 59 deaths (population: 38,564)
• Newark – 22,713 cases, 777 deaths (population: 282,011)
• North Caldwell – 247 cases, 6 deaths (population: 6,621)
• Nutley – 1,607 cases, 45 deaths (population: 28,434)
• Orange – 2,059 cases, 106 deaths (population: 30,551)
• Roseland – 275 cases, 15 deaths (population: 5,835)
• South Orange – 419 cases, 9 deaths (population: 16,691)
• Verona – 521 cases, 15 deaths (population: 13,390)
• West Caldwell – 611 cases, 50 deaths (population: 10,837)
• West Orange – 2,825 cases, 204 deaths (population: 47,563)

This article contains reporting from Tom Davis, Patch staff

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