Essex County COVID Cases Remain 'Very High:' See Town Updates

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

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

Essex County reported 59,140 cases on Friday, an increase of 3,011 over 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 100,000 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 Jan. 29, 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 – 3,813 cases, 95 deaths (population: 36,497)
• Bloomfield – 3,667 cases, 93 deaths (population: 49,973)
• Caldwell – 405 cases, 13 deaths (population: 7,941)
• Cedar Grove – 1,129 cases, 119 deaths (population: 12,489)
• East Orange – 4,748 cases, 258 deaths (population: 64,367)
• Essex Fells – 135 cases, 2 deaths (population: 2,085)
• Fairfield – 584 cases, 25 deaths (population: 7,474)
• Glen Ridge – 232 cases, 11 deaths (population: 7,574)
• Irvington – 3,153 cases, 189 deaths (population: 54,312)
• Livingston – 1,291 cases, 80 deaths (population: 30,303)
• Maplewood – 817 cases, 31 deaths (population: 25,380)
• Millburn – 586 cases, 8 deaths (population: 20,080)
• Montclair – 1,493 cases, 62 deaths (population: 38,564)
• Newark – 26,987 cases, 824 deaths (population: 282,011)
• North Caldwell – 301 cases, 6 deaths (population: 6,621)
• Nutley – 1,908 cases, 50 deaths (population: 28,434)
• Orange – 2,393 cases, 112 deaths (population: 30,551)
• Roseland – 347 cases, 15 deaths (population: 5,835)
• South Orange – 510 cases, 11 deaths (population: 16,691)
• Verona – 637 cases, 16 deaths (population: 13,390)
• West Caldwell – 738 cases, 50 deaths (population: 10,837)
• West Orange – 3,266 cases, 209 deaths (population: 47,563)

This article contains reporting by Tom Davis, Patch staff

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