Essex County's Case Rate In COVID 'Red Zone:' See Town Updates

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The coronavirus continues to take a toll on Essex County, impacting local business and schools in the region, according to updated state data.

The state Department of Health's most recent "COVID-19 Activity Level Report," which is issued weekly, said that Essex County is in the “red zone” for its coronavirus case rate. The designation means the daily new COVID-19 virus case rate, per 100,000 people, rose to "very high" in all 21 counties, exceeding 25 cases per 1,000 people.

Essex County reported 40,110 cumulative cases on Friday, an increase of 3,010 over the previous week. The county reported 2,058 cumulative deaths linked to COVID-19, an increase of 36 over the previous week. (See totals by town below)

The latest state 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.

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

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.

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 – 2,566 cases, 78 deaths (population: 36,497)
• Bloomfield – 2,449 cases, 84 deaths (population: 49,973)
• Caldwell – 236 cases, 11 deaths (population: 7,941)
• Cedar Grove – 755 cases, 118 deaths (population: 12,489)
• East Orange – 3,286 cases, 243 deaths (population: 64,367)
• Essex Fells – 76 cases, 2 deaths (population: 2,085)
• Fairfield – 416 cases, 22 deaths (population: 7,474)
• Glen Ridge – 133 cases, 9 deaths (population: 7,574)
• Irvington – 2,342 cases, 171 deaths (population: 54,312)
• Livingston – 928 cases, 74 deaths (population: 30,303)
• Maplewood – 583 cases, 28 deaths (population: 25,380)
• Millburn – 365 cases, 6 deaths (population: 20,080)
• Montclair – 992 cases, 53 deaths (population: 38,564)
• Newark – 18,256 cases, 733 deaths (population: 282,011)
• North Caldwell – 163 cases, 6 deaths (population: 6,621)
• Nutley – 1,194 cases, 42 deaths (population: 28,434)
• Orange – 1,707 cases, 97 deaths (population: 30,551)
• Roseland – 215 cases, 14 deaths (population: 5,835)
• South Orange – 303 cases, 5 deaths (population: 16,691)
• Verona – 358 cases, 15 deaths (population: 13,390)
• West Caldwell – 462 cases, 50 deaths (population: 10,837)
• West Orange – 2,325 cases, 197 deaths (population: 47,563)

This article also contains reporting by Tom Davis, Patch staff.