Westfield Coronavirus Cases: November Four Times As High As July

WESTFIELD, NJ — On Tuesday night, the first day of December, Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle gave a breakdown of the new coronavirus cases confirmed in November.

She said there were 248 new cases. This is approximately four times as many as in July (65 total), a month in which the town made news because young people were spreading the virus at parties.

Brindle said Tuesday that the Westfield Regional Health Department had confirmed 65 new cases in just the last week.

Of the total 248 cases for November:

• 2 were hospitalized (ages 61 and 86)
• 1 recently passed away (first fatality in town since July)
• 129 remain under investigation
• 37 were unable to be reached
• 25 had no known exposure
• 19 had a positive household contact
• 10 had a known exposure
• 9 were associated with youth sports
• 4 were exposed at work
• 4 were uncooperative
• 3 were travel associated
• 3 were college students (exposed at school)
• 2 were exposed at a party

Brindle said that as the state is slower to report cases, from now on she will be only reporting the numbers reported to her by the Westfield Regional Health Department, including rapid test results.

Back in August, Westfield went nearly two weeks without a new case.

Deaths down, but rising again

At the height of the crisis in New Jersey, 460 people died from the virus in 24 hours on April 30. READ MORE: 'I Cannot Get Air': When Local Woman Begged For Coronavirus Test

The lowest daily death rate was Sept. 8, when the state announced that only two people in the state had passed away from the virus in the last day.

But fatalities are rising again. From Monday to Tuesday, the state of New Jersey reported 90 new fatalities, the highest number since July.

Doctors have said that a number of factors were contributing to the fact that deaths are slower than spring as cases rise, including people getting test results (and thus treatment) sooner, more protective equipment available in hospitals, and doctors becoming better able to treat the virus. However, the virus still can have long-term effects.

Union County and national trends

Now that the state is in the second wave of the virus, most New Jersey counties are seeing a spike in cases. Eighteen of 21 New Jersey counties have been designated "high risk."

Several Union County school districts, including Westfield, have gone remote or plan to go remote after winter break for two weeks because of the designation. Summit schools will go remote for the first two weeks in January.

Before Thanksgiving, Gov. Phil Murphy announced 4,383 new positive cases and 48 more confirmed fatalities in New Jersey since the day before. He said there were more than 2,500 hospitalizations statewide.

More than 266,000 Americans and 14,900 people in New Jersey have died from the virus so far.

HOW TO GET TESTED

• Union County has added mobile walk up test sites in addition to the testing site located at Kean University. Testing is free for Union County residents and is by appointment only with no car required; participants must wear masks and observe social distance. Any Union County resident can make an appointment for a test, whether they have symptoms. To pick a location, date and time, and to make an appointment online, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update/walk-up.
• Union County residents who need to make an appointment by phone can call 908-518-4307 for assistance. Non-profit organizations and other community groups can call the Union County Office of Emergency Management at 908-654-9881 to request a visit from the Mobile Test Unit.

• To find out more, you can also contact your doctor, visit covid19.nj.gov/testing, or call 211.

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT/DINING

• Indoor dining is allowed at 25 percent capacity, ending at 10 p.m. For a list of rules, click here.
• To read about outdoor dining in Westfield, click here.
• Gov. Murphy signed an executive order allowing gyms, health clubs, and indoor amusement facilities to reopen at 25 percent capacity effective Sept. 1. Equipment must be adjusted to allow a minimum of six feet of distance, and must be sanitized between uses. Everyone must wear masks. More details can be found here.

NATIONAL TRENDS

• Use this link to see the updated fatality count in the United States.
• More than 900 health care workers have died of the virus nationally.
• Others are simultaneously fighting misinformation and hoaxes as they try to fight the virus.

HOW TO GET HELP WITH HEAT, RENT, AND MORE

• During the State of Emergency in New Jersey, no tenant is permitted to be evicted from their home or apartment for the inability to pay rent. Talk to your local mayor's office if you are experiencing difficulties.
• The CARES act has made money available to help with rent in each city. More information is here.
• New Jersey residents can get help with heating and energy bills. Information is here.
• Various other avenues of relief and benefits have also been made available, including family leave for 12 weeks if you can't work due to your child's school or camp being closed, and changes to unemployment rules to help those who were at a job for a short time, or freelancing.

LONG-TERM CARE

• Recently, there were 159 long term care facilities with active outbreaks, the state Department of Health said last month. The state announced that deaths at the facilities had more than doubled since May 1.
• New Jersey residents became alarmed at the high number of residents who have passed away in nursing homes, rehabs, and similar facilities. The state announced plans in May to increase testing at some long term care facilities.
• The state released death toll statistics in spring for long-term care facilities like rehabs and nursing homes. See the list here.
• You can report problems with long term care facilities here, or if you suspect coronavirus related misconduct, here.
• Some New Jersey long-term care facilities reopened for limited visits, with precautions, in July.

Here are statewide coronavirus resources:

• NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/
• General COVID-19 questions: 2-1-1
• NJ COVID-19 hotline: (800) 222-1222

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