Wayne Coronavirus Update: 554 Cases, 21 Deaths As Of Monday

WAYNE, NJ — In Wayne Township a total of 554 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus, mayor Christopher Vergano said Monday in a news conference. The number of people who have died from the virus is now at 21, he said.

Vergano said new 24 positive cases were reported to Wayne Township from the New Jersey Department of Health on Saturday, and 23 were reported Sunday.

Of the new cases, 26 were men and 21 were women. The average age of a patient diagnosed over the weekend is 60-years-old, and ages range from 22- to 97-years-old.

NJDOH reported six additional deaths in Wayne Township over the weekend, Vergano said.

The deaths are as follows:

• 76-years-old, female, April 2
• 69-years-old, male, April 6
• 96-years-old, female, April 7
• 75-years-old, female, April 7
• 92-years-old, female, April 8
• 75-years-old, female, April 8

Of the total 554 people diagnosed with COVID-19 in Wayne Township to date, most are being treated at home, some have fully recovered and are back in the workforce and some are still in the hospital, Vergano said. It's unclear how many people have recovered from the virus.

Passaic County offers drive-thru testing at William Paterson University every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

To be tested, the patient must be a Passaic County resident with a prescription from a doctor.

In the news conference, Vergano expressed his condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Francesco Scorpo, a 34-year-old Patterson police officer who lost his life to the new coronavirus.

“Today is a sad day," Vergano said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Patterson Police Department." Read more: Paterson Police Officer, 34, Dies Of Coronavirus

The mayor reminded residents New Jersey now requires anyone entering a store to wear a protective face mask or covering.

"If you are out and about, and you see someone near you, the best thing to do is to assume they have the virus and make sure you’re taking necessary precautions," he said.

He added: "If you’re inclined to wear plastic gloves, they go in the garbage. They don’t go on the ground... It’s disgusting. Please, [put them] in the garbage or take them home with you."

Hospitals and testing:

• Passaic County offers drive-thru testing at William Paterson University.
• Hackensack Meridian offers COVID19 testing at its nine urgent care centers in Monmouth and Ocean counties.
• Immediate care of Marlboro is offering a drive-thru COVID19 test in the Marlboro Medical Arts site located at 479 Rt 520 in Marlboro. Testing is by appointment only at (855) 925-5467 ext 0.
• The PNC Bank Arts Center is a regional FEMA drive-thru test location and is open for testing every other day from 8 a.m. to 4pm for up to 500 persons per day. Click here for PNC Arts Test Center info & schedule.
• On every Saturday, the PNC Bank Arts Center site will be dedicated to symptomatic health care workers and first responders -- police, fire, and EMS -- with valid credentials only. The general public will not be able to access this site on Saturdays.
• Central Jersey Urgent Care is testing up to 80 patients daily at Eatontown, Howell and Marlboro.

How It Spreads

The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person. Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others. That is why CDC recommends that these patients be isolated either in the hospital or at home (depending on how sick they are) until they are better and no longer pose a risk of infecting others.

There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19.

While the best way to prevent illness is to avoid virus exposure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention always recommends taking preventive actions to contain the spread of viruses. This includes:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.