Middlesex Co.'s Cases Still In COVID 'Red Zone:' See Town Updates

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

The state Department of Health's most recent "COVID-19 Activity Level Report," which is issued weekly, says Middlesex County is in the “red zone” for coronavirus cases.

Middlesex County reported 42,917 cases on Saturday, an increase of more than 3,697 from the previous week.

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.

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.

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

Carteret

• 1,695

Cranbury

• 132

Dunellen

• 471

East Brunswick

• 1,686

Edison

• 4,658

Helmetta

• 102

Highland Park

• 495

Jamesburg

• 274

Metuchen

• 466

Middlesex

• 815

Milltown

• 282

Monroe

• 2,033

New Brunswick

• 3,580

North Brunswick

• 2,402

Old Bridge

• 3,418

Perth Amboy

• 5,271

Piscataway

• 2,579

Plainsboro

• 637

Sayreville

• 2,315

South Amboy

• 548

South Brunswick

• 1,361

South Plainfield

• 1,495

South River

• 894

Spotswood

• 349

Woodbridge

• 6,489