COVID Delta Strain Sees Rapid Growth In Camden County: Officials

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Cases of the delta variant of the coronavirus have doubled in Camden County in the last two weeks as the overall number of new COVID-19 cases increased slightly, county officials said Thursday afternoon.

But the new cases are predominantly among those who are unvaccinated, and officials stressed the importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccine during a virtual news conference that emanated from Camden County College’s Blackwood campus.

About two weeks ago, the delta variant made up about 35 percent of new coronavirus cases in Camden County, according to Camden County Assistant Public Health Coordinator Caryelle Lasher. That number is now 70 percent.

There were 244 new cases reported in Camden County from July 1-14, for a total of 56,189 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, according to state statistics.

“It’s a steep increase, and it’s happening quickly,” Lasher said.

She also warned that things could be different in the fall, and that mask and social distancing guidelines that helped reduce the number of cases may have to be reinstituted where necessary, including schools.

The delta variant is more contagious because it more readily attaches to cells and is more readily able to dodge the body’s defenses, according to Jefferson Health Infectious Disease Physician Dr. Mark Condoluci.

“All viruses mutate, and when viruses mutate, they usually take on a weaker form,” Condolucci said. “This is not necessarily going that pathway.”

The delta variant was the first variant discovered in India, and was now responsible for one in four new U.S. coronavirus cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control as of July 1. Read more here: 4 Things To Know About The Delta Variant Of Coronavirus In NJ

In New Jersey, it constitutes about 26 percent of the new cases, Condolucci said. The spread of it and the other strains of the coronavirus can be slowed by getting vaccinated, health officials said.

In Camden County, 293,000 residents have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to Camden County Commissioner Jonathan Young. The virus remains a pandemic among the unvaccinated, and the numbers have seen a slight increase in recent weeks, Young said.

The county’s infection rate is up to 1.2 percent, after it was lower than 1 percent for several weeks, Young said. There were also three more deaths reported this week, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Camden County to 1,236 since the pandemic began in March 2020.

“Vaccinations work well against the pandemic, and it’s better than the alternative,” Condolucci said. “It is here, it is spreading, and we have to remain vigilant against it.”

Camden County’s COVID-19 vaccination center at Camden County College closed on July 1, and the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Camden City, which has been providing vaccines to Camden residents, has reduced its hours of operation to one day per week, every Thursday from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The county is now focusing on bringing the vaccine to areas where it is needed the most, including Camden City, where only 46 percent of the population is vaccinated, state officials said earlier this week.

Services, including testing and vaccinations, remain available in community pharmacies, hospitals, and from other local providers.

Health officials said anyone who is vaccinated is less likely to get the virus, which also cuts down on the likelihood that they could transmit the virus to someone who is not vaccinated, but it is still possible.

“If you think you may be exposed, you may want to wear your mask and keep distancing,” Condolucci said.

Young said he sees people continuing to wear masks and keep their distance. People realize this is the way to slow it down, but that it is also still a threat, he said.

“This is still serious, and it is still killing people,” Young said. “Make sure you keep your neighbor’s safe. Be your brother’s keeper.”