Barnegat-Area COVID-19 Update: Café Closing, Chowderfest Adapts

BARNEGAT, NJ — There's a lot of news to keep up with right now — locally, nationally and worldwide. Here's a recap of coronavirus updates in Barnegat and Manahawkin.

Cases

The Ocean County Health Department has reported 326 total coronavirus cases in Stafford and 286 in Barnegat as of Wednesday morning. The virus has killed 30 people in Stafford and 11 in Barnegat, according to the OCHD.

Those figures show an increase of 26 cases and two deaths in Stafford, along with 24 cases in Barnegat, since Barnegat-Manahawkin Patch's last update July 30.

Officials reported 31 new cases Wednesday in Ocean County, bringing the area to 10,623 cases and 953 deaths.

Testing

Ocean County recently began testing asymptomatic patients July 6 at its Ocean County College drive-thru site.

To schedule a test appointment, Ocean County residents can visit the Ocean County Health Department website at www.ochd.org. If residents have any questions, they can call the Health Department at 732-341-9700, ext. 7411.

• Coronavirus testing is available for all Stafford residents at Urgent Care Now in Manahawkin. Visit www.urgentcarenownj.com or call 609-978-0242 option 5 to schedule a visit. Patients must provide an ID showing a Stafford address, along with a valid insurance card or an original social security card.
• Additionally, Hackensack Meridian Urgent Care on Long Beach Island can test whether patients were previously infected with the coronavirus. Hackensack Meridian's urgent care centers began antibody testing May 2. MORE.

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Recent Updates

• Delights Artisan Café dedicated itself to its indoor atmosphere featuring tea, dining and sometimes live music. Then the pandemic hit. After months of challenges relating to coronavirus restrictions, the business will close Friday — less than a year after its grand opening. MORE.
• Long Beach Island's Chowderfest will become Chowder Month. The extended event is intended to prevent overcrowding. MORE.
• The Surflight Theatre created an outdoor venue so they could meet coronavirus regulations during performances. Tropical Storm Isaias destroyed it. But the group came together to build a new outdoor venue, putting on shows only two days after the storm. MORE.
• The 38th Annual Old Time Barnegat Bay Decoy and Gunning Show will be going virtual in 2020. MORE.

Here's what else you should know:

• Murphy is warning that New Jersey's coronavirus cases are on the rise again, and he believes that indoor parties have been largely responsible for the uptick. Read more: Gov. Murphy Warns That NJ's Coronavirus Cases Are Rising Again
• As a result, he announced that indoor gatherings were once again being restricted to 25 people and 25 percent capacity per room, reversing a previous increase to 100 people. Read more here: NJ Reverses Indoor Gathering Rules As Transmission Rate Rises
• A new research study showed New Jersey is in danger of going through a surge of coronavirus cases. Read more: NJ 'At Risk' Of Coronavirus Surge, Study Shows

Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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