Westfield Shows 'High' Level Of COVID-19 Activity In Recent Weeks

WESTFIELD, NJ — Westfield is showing a high level of COVID-19 activity in recent weeks, according to an update from Mayor Shelley Brindle.

In the last two weeks, New Jersey has seen a 50 percent increase in cases, and Westfield is showing a high level of activity locally, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

For the month of April, there were 294 COVID cases reported in Westfield, which is up from 127 cases in March. The pediatric cases were broken down as follows:

• Under age 5: 32 cases
• Ages 5-9: 23 cases
• Ages 10-14: 22 cases
• Ages 15-19: 21 cases

Health officials are continuing to monitor two newly identified versions of the BA2 variant — BA2.12 and BA2.12.1. These are both considered to be more transmissible than BA2.

With the increase in COVID activity, the Health Department is encouraging residents to test early if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID.

The state’s average of daily confirmed cases is also up 20 percent from a week ago, and up 133 percent from a month ago. In Union County, the rate of transmission is currently 1.2.

Union County had an average of 173 daily reported cases during the past two weeks, according to the Health Department. Statewide, New Jersey averaged 592 hospitalizations during the past two weeks, which is a 28 percent increase from the two weeks prior.

Overlook Medical Center reports thirteen patients hospitalized with COVID.

Statewide, daily vaccinations averaged 12.2K a day, which down from 15K a day four weeks ago.

Currently, 80.3 percent of all New Jersey residents age five and older are fully vaccinated, the Health Department wrote.

Additional breakdowns of vaccination statistics by location and age group can be found on the NJ COVID Dashboard.

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, at 6:30 PM.

More information and details on how to register can be found here.

During the month of April, 322 vaccinations were given by the Health Department in Westfield, and they continue to provide vaccines through home visits, pop-up clinics and appointments

You can schedule a vaccine appointment at westfieldnj.gov/vaccine-appointments or by calling 908-789-4070.

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