Barnegat-Area Coronavirus Updates: School Cases, Polling Places

BARNEGAT, NJ — Here are the latest coronavirus updates regarding Barnegat and Manahawkin.

Cases

The Ocean County Health Department has reported 388 total coronavirus cases and 28 deaths in Stafford as of Friday morning — an increase of 12 cases and no new deaths since Barnegat-Manahawkin Patch's last update Sept. 22.

The OCHD has counted 339 cases and 12 deaths in Barnegat as of Friday morning, indicating seven cases and no new deaths since Sept. 22.

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Ocean County has added more than 3,000 cases since Aug. 31, when the county had 10,483 people who were positive for the coronavirus, according to the Ocean County Health Department. As of Thursday, there were 13,676 cases.

Related article: Why Ocean County Hasn't Determined Coronavirus 'Recovery' Numbers

Schools

Barnegat schools reported three separate cases last week: one each in Barnegat High School, Russell O. Brackman Middle School and the Robert L. Horbelt School. Read more: 2 From Barnegat Schools Test Positive For Coronavirus

But state officials have reported only one outbreak in Ocean County schools through Monday. "Outbreaks" indicate two or more laboratory-confirmed cases among students or staff within a 14-day period. They must be epidemiologically linked in the school setting, not share a household and not identify as close contacts of each other in another setting.

Recent Updates

• Voting will look different because of the coronavirus pandemic. But Barnegat and Stafford will have several polling places where voters can cast provisional ballots. Disabled voters will have access to the machines. Here's where to find the polling places.
• New Jersey restaurants have faced a harsh year because of the coronavirus pandemic, and winter weather could further limit their options. One Manahawkin establishment found a way to help them get around that: "igloos." MORE.
• Stafford Township received a $1,000 grant to fill its Little Free Food Pantries. The Acme Foundation awarded the grant to the Recreation Department and Stafford PBA 297. MORE.

Here's what else you should know:

• Murphy, speaking during a Wednesday news conference, released new data that has identified 11 coronavirus outbreaks at New Jersey schools. Murphy made the announcement as he revealed 722 new cases and nine more deaths. Read more: Gov. Murphy: 11 Coronavirus Outbreaks At NJ Schools In New Data Release
• Murphy signed a newly revised state budget on Tuesday that will seek to rescue the state's depleted finances as the Garden State continues to struggle through the coronavirus crisis. Read more: Gov. Phil Murphy Signs Revised NJ Budget: Here's What It Will Do