1st Coronavirus Case Identified In Brick: Ocean County Officials

BRICK, NJ — Brick Township has joined the list of towns with cases of the new coronavirus, after the first positive case in the township was announced Thursday by the Ocean County Health Department.

There are 48 positive cases identified in Ocean County, the health department said, a figure that more than doubled from Wednesday's count of 16, resulting in part from expanded testing, state officials said.

As of noon Thursday, there were 742 positive tests for COVID-19 in New Jersey, and nine people have died from it, according to the state health department. More than 50 percent of those positives are people who are hospitalized, officials said.

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An Ocean County man in his 70s is among the four deaths announced on Thursday, but neither state nor county officials have announced his hometown. Read more: 1st Reported Death, 48 Coronavirus Cases Now In Ocean County

Brick Township officials reiterated on Thursday that all play structures, basketball courts, and skateparks are closed and off limits until further notice.

"Playground equipment presents a very real potential for the spread of germs and using this equipment greatly increases the potential for the virus to be spread," officials said. "Group activities present the same risk. These measures are being taken to increase the safety of our children and families."

The township’s park security officers will be visiting all parks to enforce the restrictions, Brick officials said. "We again ask for everyone’s cooperation in following social distancing guidelines to help fight the spread of COVID-19."

COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that's a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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