Gloucester Township Woman Dies Due To Coronavirus

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Gloucester Township woman in her 60s has died after testing positive for new coronavirus, Camden County officials announced on Wednesday. She was among 10 new fatalities announced throughout the county on Wednesday. Ninety-six Camden County residents have died after testing positive for the coronavirus.

The other fatalities included:

• A Cherry Hill woman in her 70s;
• A Camden man in his 60s;
• A Camden woman in her 70s;
• A Voorhees man in his 60s;
• A Bellmawr man in his 70s;
• A Cherry Hill man in his 80s;
• A Berlin man in his 80s;
• A Cherry Hill man in his 80s; and
• A Cherry Hill woman in her 90s.

“Every loss of life that occurs because of the scourge of COVID-19 is devastating to our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families whose loved ones have succumbed to coronavirus, and we continue to wish for speedy recovery of all residents who have tested positive,” Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. said. “The Freeholder Board is continuing to focus on securing testing access for as many of our residents as possible, and on addressing the critical lack of preparedness and resources in long-term care facilities where this disease has wreaked havoc. As we look around the country at states that are beginning to ease restrictions, we cannot lose sight of why we remain under stay at home orders. We cannot afford a second surge in cases, and we do not yet have the testing capacity to reopen for select individuals. The only way to keep ourselves safe at this time continues to be social distancing and staying home.”

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According to the Camden County Department of Health, 352 confirmed cases have occurred out of the aggregate case load of 2,312 in the county’s 56 long-term care facilities. At this time, 59 of the county’s 96 deaths have been reported from these facilities. See related: Camden County Officials ‘Horrified’ By Nursing Home Deaths

Overall, the Camden County Department of Health announced 97 additional positive cases of the coronavirus identified in Camden County. Trace investigations are underway in all new cases, including the following in Gloucester Township:

• A man in his 50s;
• A woman in her 70s;
• A teenage girl; and
• A man in his 20s.

Here's what else you should know:

• Murphy issued a stay-at-home order, closing all non-essential business at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 21. Read more: Gov. Murphy Announces NJ 'Stay-At-Home' Order Due To Coronavirus
• On Monday, March 16, Murphy announced that all schools would close on Tuesday, March 17. Read more: NJ Schools Will Close Due To Coronavirus Outbreak: Gov. Murphy
• Murphy ordered stores across New Jersey on Wednesday, April 8 to require shoppers to wear face coverings or masks. Here's how you can get yours, and how the new rule will be enforced. Read more: NJ Shoppers Must Wear Masks: Where To Get Them, How It's Enforced
• Here are 10 resources for you and your family to utilize as you navigate through the outbreak: Unemployment, Tests, Food: 10 NJ Resources In Coronavirus Crisis
• New Jersey's courts suspended all new jury trials until further notice, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner said on Thursday, March 12. Read more: Coronavirus Throws Monkey Wrench Into New Jersey Court System
• Murphy said during a live press conference on Wednesday, March 25 that he's ordering many day care centers to shut amid the coronavirus outbreak. Read more: Gov. Murphy To Shut Many Day Care Centers Amid Coronavirus Crisis
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel advisory for New Jersey. Read more: CDC Travel Advisory For NJ: No Coronavirus Travel Ban From Trump
• New Jersey residents are expected to start receiving stimulus payments soon. Here's what you need to do beforehand. Read more: Coronavirus Economic Stimulus Payments: What You Need To Do In NJ
• On Friday, March 27, Murphy allowed more types of New Jersey businesses – including gun sellers – to operate in the coronavirus outbreak. What's open and closed now? Read more: What's Open, Closed? More NJ Business To Operate Amid Coronavirus
• Murphy announced on Tuesday, April 7 that state and county parks will close. Read more: Gov. Murphy Closes Parks On NJ Coronavirus Crisis's Deadliest Day
• Here are four urgent tasks New Jersey wants you to do during the coronavirus outbreak, including wearing a mask. And here's why. Read more: Wear A Mask! 4 Things NJ Wants You To Do In Coronavirus Outbreak

How It Spreads

The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person. Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others. That is why CDC recommends that these patients be isolated either in the hospital or at home (depending on how sick they are) until they are better and no longer pose a risk of infecting others.

There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19.

While the best way to prevent illness is to avoid virus exposure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention always recommends taking preventive actions to contain the spread of viruses.
This includes:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know