Summit Sees Rise In COVID-19 Cases In April: Health Department

SUMMIT, NJ — The Westfield Regional Health Department reported an increase in COVID-19 cases in Summit over the past month.

In the month of April, Summit saw a total of 269 cases, which is up from the 140 reported cases in March.

Of the 269 cases reported in April, the 86 pediatric cases are broken down as follows:

• 28 individuals aged four and younger
• 21 individuals aged five to nine years
• 26 individual aged 10 to 14 years
• 11 individuals aged 15 to 19 years

According to the Health Department, last week, New Jersey saw a daily average of 3,621 confirmed cases of COVID-19. This number is up from an average of 1,332 cases four weeks ago and from 1,450 cases eight weeks ago.

There were eight average daily fatalities in the state last week, which is up from seven deaths each day four weeks ago but down 26 deaths each day eight weeks ago.

New Jersey also had the seventh highest confirmed cases per capita last week. This is up from ninth place last month.

Union County had an average of 173 daily reported cases during the past two weeks, according the the Health Department.

Statewide, New Jersey averaged 592 hospitalizations from COVID-19 during the past two weeks — a 28 percent increase in hospitalizations from two weeks ago. Overlook Medical Center reports 13 patients are currently hospitalized with COVID-19.

With the recent increase in COVID-19 activity, the Westfield Regional Health Department encourages citizens to test early if they develop or are experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms.

The Department is continuing to monitor two newly identified versions of the BA2 variant. BA2.12 and BA2.12.1 are both considered more transmissible than BA2 and have led to a 50 percent increase in COVID-19 cases in New Jersey in the last two weeks, according to the Health Department.

The rate of transmission in New Jersey remains at 1.2%. Summit is showing a high level of activity locally. More information on transmission rates is available at https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/topics/NCOV/COVID_19_Report_Week_2022_17.pdf.

Summit residents can book COVID-19 vaccinations appointments with the Westfield Regional Health Department online by visiting westfieldnj.gov/vaccine-appointments or by calling 908-789-4070. Home visits are offered as well. The Health Department administered 322 vaccinations during the month of April.

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, with support from the New Jersey Health Fund, is hosting “A Candid Conversation on COVID-19 Vaccines in Pediatrics and Young Adults” Zoom webinar on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at 6:30PM. More information and details on how to register can be found at: https://files.constantcontact.com/fc86bb7e501/e3ac4b3b-8cf5-45b2-a6de-9d532dbd74de.pdf.

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