Union County Moves To 'High' COVID Level, Masks Recommended Indoors

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Union County's COVID-19 case level has moved from "medium" to "high" since last week, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

The Health Department advises that people wear a mask while indoors in public and to get tested if experiencing any symptoms.

Health officials have stated that the BA.5 variant is the most transmittable COVID variant to date, with greater ability than prior strains to evade prior immunity from COVID infection and vaccination, according to UC Davis Health.

So far, there is no evidence that BA.5 causes more severe symptoms than other omicron variants, and some research has pointed to the possibility that BA.5 is overall milder than other strains.

Read more: COVID's Most Contagious Strain Yet In NJ: What To Know About BA.5

The Health Department reported 116 new confirmed cases in Union County on Monday and 31 new probable cases.

According to the Health Department's report for the week ending July 14, COVID-19 levels are "high" in 17 of New Jersey's counties and "medium" in the remaining four counties.

The number of hospital admissions in Union County also rose to 10.1 per 100,000 people in the last week, which is considered a "medium" level, according to the report.

In areas where levels are high, the Health Department recommends wearing a mask indoors regardless of vaccination status, particularly when in crowded areas with poor ventilation.

For those who are high-risk, it is recommended that they wear a mask or respirator that provides greater protection, such as N-95 or KN95, and avoid indoor activities where they can be exposed.

You can stay up to date with COVID-19 levels in your area by checking the Department of Health's COVID-19 dashboard.