Basking Ridge COVID-19 Updates: Rebound In Vaccination Totals

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Here are the latest coronavirus updates around Basking Ridge.

Cases and Vaccinations

The Somerset County Health Department reported 35 new cases and no additional COVID-19 deaths in Bernards Township from Feb. 3 to Tuesday. Officials have seen 1,060 cases and 47 deaths from the virus in the township since the pandemic began.

Health officials have tallied 16,625 cases and 663 coronavirus deaths to date in Somerset County.

The Bernards Township School District updates its COVID-19 dashboard daily.

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The New Jersey Department of Health has tallied 43,857 vaccine doses administered in Somerset County as of Wednesday morning. That's an increase of 11,112 doses since Basking Ridge Patch's last update Thursday.

The county has an estimated population of 328,934, and both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses per person. State officials said in December they want 70 percent of New Jersey adults inoculated in six months.

New Jersey hit a snag in vaccinations because of dose shortages that became apparent in January and snow storms in February. Shortages and bad weather caused the Morris County Regional Megasite in Rockaway — only about 25 minutes from Basking Ridge — to close for four straight days.

Recent Updates

• Here's the latest federal data on hospital capacities in the Basking Ridge area.
• Check out Basking Ridge Patch's comprehensive guide on vaccine sites in the area and throughout New Jersey — plus guidance on getting appointments for those eligible.
• Here's how the coronavirus is affecting Basking Ridge nursing homes. MORE.

ICYMI

The Bernards Township Health Department received approval as a COVID-19 vaccination site. But like New Jersey and the rest of the county, they're not immune to the vaccine shortage.

The local health department got approval Jan. 27 to open a small vaccine site. But
the state informed the agency two days later that they must wait to begin because of the overall shortage of doses, said Bernards Township Health Officer Lucy Forgione.

Read more: Bernards Twp. Approved For COVID Vaccine Site But Faces Delays

Here's what else you should know:

• Five of New Jersey's counties remain in the "red" zone for coronavirus outbreak severity, according to the latest report by the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Seven, on the other hand, have been downgraded from the highest threat level over the past two weeks. MORE.

• New Jersey school districts have stepped up their demands to get teachers vaccinated against COVID-19 now that Gov. Phil Murphy has offered a possible timeline for educators to get "shots in the arm." MORE.

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