Two New Cases Of Coronavirus Identified In Monmouth County

HAZLET, NJ — The coronavirus has now surfaced in Monmouth County: Two Monmouth County residents, a Hazlet woman in her 80s and a Little Silver man in his late 20s, have now been identified as having the virus. The man had recently attended a Biogen conference in Boston, said county health officials; as many as fifteen cases of coronavirus have been confirmed as coming out of that conference.

The news was announced at midday Monday by Monmouth County Freeholders Tom Arnone and Sue Kiley.

The 83-year-old Hazlet woman is being treated at Hackensack Meridian Health Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel.

The 27-year-old Little Silver man was treated at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, but he has since been discharged and is now in isolation at home, said a hospital spokesperson. Read more: Little Silver Man With Coronavirus Quarantined For Past Week

It is unknown if the older Hazlet woman had traveled. She remains in stable condition at Bayshore.

More than 50,000 people worldwide have recovered from the coronavirus, according to data tracked by Johns Hopkins University, and health officials maintain that hand washing and staying home when sick will keep most people safe.

“The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders has just received notice of two presumptive positive cases of coronavirus in Monmouth County," the freeholders said.

The two presumptive cases are:

• Female, 83, in Hazlet being treated at Hackensack Meridian Health Bayshore Medical Center
• Male, 27, in Little Silver, being treated at Hackensack Meridian Health Riverview Medical Center (recently attended the Biogen conference in Boston)

Both patients are currently hospitalized and in stable condition.

"The Board is monitoring the developing situation and is prepared to take the appropriate actions to protect the public health and safety of Monmouth County residents," they said.

As of Monday afternoon, New Jersey has six coronavirus cases, but investigations are underway for more potential cases in nine counties.

"From north to south, the coronavirus seems to be spreading," state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli told reporters in a conference call Monday morning.

The most high-profile person to get the virus so far is the executive director of the Port Authority, Rick Cotton, who tested positive for coronavirus, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Monday.

Cotton, whose agencies oversees Newark Liberty International Airport, the PATH trains and bridges and tunnels to New York City, will be working from home and self-quarantining.

"He has been at airports with many people coming back with the virus," Cuomo said.

"He'll be working at home," he said. The rest of his team is being tested and will also work remotely, Cuomo said.

The extent of contact he's had with people in New Jersey wasn't known at press time.

Read: Head Of Port Authority Of NY/NJ Tests Positive For Coronavirus