78 Percent Of Bridgewater COVID Deaths Linked To Nursing Homes

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater is reporting a total of 456 confirmed cases and 57 deaths of the coronavirus as of Wednesday. Of the deaths, 78 percent can be linked to nursing homes within the township.

"As you can see from the data we published — and as sadly proven true in every country throughout the world — the elderly are especially vulnerable to this disease, especially when living in close quarters. The fact is as tragic as it is inescapable, based on the data I have available to me," Bridgewater Health Officer Kevin Sumner.

The latest in Bridgewater show 219 positive coronavirus cases for senior residents and 106 positive staff members spread among 8 impacted nursing homes and long-term care facilities. There have been 53 senior resident deaths and zero staff member deaths at these facilities as reported by the New Jersey Department of Health on Monday. The state has a dashboard set up that tracks the number of cases statewide, including how many cases and fatalities involve long-term care facilities. Read More: Coronavirus Seniors, Staff Cases At Bridgewater Nursing Homes

Along with the state's efforts to oversee these facilities, Bridgewater health officials have been communicating with the facilities leaders to make sure they have the help they need.

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View Bridgewater's Q&A about long-term care facilities in the township below:

Somerset County has a total of 4,505 cases and 408 deaths as of Wednesday, according to the state. Franklin Township is the hardest hit in the county with 1,209 cases and 112 deaths followed by Bridgewater and Bernards Township in terms of death rate.

Here is a look at the entire county's coronavirus numbers, according to Somerset County Health Department. (Note that Somerset County reported totals may differ from town's own numbers because of reporting times and other variations.)

• Bedminster Township: 39 cases (4 deaths)
• Bernards Township: 242 cases (41 deaths)
• Bernardsville Borough: 61 cases (2 deaths)
• Bound Brook Borough: 301 cases (12 deaths)
• Branchburg Township: 79 cases (2 deaths)
• Bridgewater Township: 456 cases (61 deaths)
• Far Hills Borough: 3 cases (0 deaths)
• Franklin Township: 1,209 cases (112 deaths)
• Green Brook Township: 125 cases (30 deaths)
• Hillsborough Township: 346 cases (51 deaths)
• Manville Borough: 147 cases (5 deaths)
• Millstone Borough: 2 cases (0 deaths)
• Montgomery Township: 103 cases (6 deaths)
• North Plainfield Borough: 307 cases (32 deaths)
• Peapack-Gladstone Borough: 39 cases (1 death)
• Raritan Borough: 104 cases (9 deaths)
• Rocky Hills Borough: 5 cases (0 deaths)
• Somerville Borough: 132 cases (6 deaths)
• South Bound Brook Borough: 59 cases (3 deaths)
• Warren Township: 121 cases (13 deaths)
• Watchung Borough: 80 cases (15 deaths)

New Jersey now has had 156,628 coronavirus cases and 11,339 deaths. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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