Morris Co.'s Weekly COVID Cases Up 10 Percent: See Town Updates

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

Morris County reported 24,205 total cases on Saturday, an increase of 2,225, or 10 percent, over the previous week.

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 all Morris County still is 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.

Morris County officials provided the following breakdown of cases by town:

• Boonton 457
• Boonton Township 303
• Butler 413
• Chatham Borough 223
• Chatham Township 332
• Chester Borough 50
• Chester Township 251
• Denville 689
• Dover 1989
• East Hanover 536
• Florham Park 437
• Hanover 590
• Harding 126
• Jefferson 1037
• Kinnelon 551
• Lincoln Park 768
• Long Hill 228
• Madison 489
• Mendham Borough 185
• Mendham Township 176
• Mine Hill 280
• Montville 924
• Morris Plains 340
• Morris Township 924
• Morristown 1457
• Mount Arlington 243
• Mount Olive 1127
• Mountain Lakes 145
• Netcong 142
• Parsippany 2502
• Pequannock 860
• Randolph 1099
• Riverdale 236
• Rockaway Borough 353
• Rockaway Township 1352
• Roxbury 1082
• Victory Gardens 143
• Washington Township 570
• Wharton 628