Middlesex County COVID Cases Remain 'Very High:' 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 a 10-month total of 45,268 cases on Saturday, an increase of more than 2,351 from the previous week.

Middlesex is among a number of counties that have started vaccination programs, announced immunization sites or both. Read more: Update As COVID-19 Vaccine Sites Announced In Middlesex County

The “red zone,” meanwhile, 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

• 32 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 1,841 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 35 Reported Total Deaths

Cranbury

• 2 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 136 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 3 Reported Total Deaths

Dunellen

• 2 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 494 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 10 Reported Total Deaths

East Brunswick

• 36 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 1,835 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 70 Reported Total Deaths

Edison

• 53 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 4,962 Reported Total Cases
• 1 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 274 Reported Total Deaths

Helmetta

• 2 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 106 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 5 Reported Total Deaths

Highland Park

• 5 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 530 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 12 Reported Total Deaths

Jamesburg

• 3 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 288 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 6 Reported Total Deaths

Metuchen

• 13 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 510 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 5 Reported Total Deaths

Middlesex

• 20 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 877 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 25 Reported Total Deaths

Milltown

• 2 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 303 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 5 Reported Total Deaths

Monroe

• 20 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 2,199 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 143 Reported Total Deaths

New Brunswick

• 34 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 3,728 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 88 Reported Total Deaths

North Brunswick

• 25 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 2,560 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 68 Reported Total Deaths

Old Bridge

• 56 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 3,720 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 105 Reported Total Deaths

Perth Amboy

• 48 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 5,556 Reported Total Cases
• 1 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 158 Reported Total Deaths

Piscataway

• 44 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 2,812 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 48 Reported Total Deaths

Plainsboro

• 3 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 674 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 29 Reported Total Deaths

Sayreville

• 31 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 2,523 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 54 Reported Total Deaths

South Amboy

• 8 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 584 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 22 Reported Total Deaths

South Brunswick

• 13 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 1,480 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 39 Reported Total Deaths

South Plainfield

• 18 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 1,597 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 45 Reported Total Deaths

South River

• 17 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 977 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 13 Reported Total Deaths

Spotswood

• 3 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 373 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 11 Reported Total Deaths

Woodbridge

• 79 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
• 6,911 Reported Total Cases
• 0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
• 175 Reported Total Deaths