Morris County’s Cases In COVID 'Red Zone:' See Town Updates

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — The coronavirus continues to take a grim toll on Morris County, impacting local business and schools in the region, according to updated state data.

The state Department of Health's most recent "COVID-19 Activity Level Report," which is issued weekly, says Morris County is in the “red zone” for coronavirus cases.

In fact, every single town saw an increase in COVID-19 cases from last week.

The “red zone” means the daily new COVID-19 virus case rate, per 100,000 people, rose to "very high" in all 21 counties. That means they exceed 25 cases per 1,000 people.

The latest reports say the overall coronavirus activity level also rose from "moderate," or “yellow,” to "high," or “orange,” in recent weeks in all 21 New Jersey counties.

With the rise to a "high" level, state officials said, school districts in those counties may have to take more serious steps — such as quarantining or even shutting down schools — if a child shows the symptoms of COVID-19.

"When it is high risk, there are some recommendations that we make together with local school boards," said Edward Lifshitz, medical director for the state Department of Health.

Indeed, a number of school districts have shifted to remote instruction as the numbers have risen.

The overall coronavirus risk rose to "high" in each of the counties because:

The new daily case rate in each of the counties rose to 10 or more per 100,000 people. The percent of COVID-19-like illnesses rose above 5.52 in each of the counties. The percent of positive cases rose above 10.01.

Morris County officials provided the following breakdown of cases by town as of Dec. 10:

• Chester Borough: 31
• Harding: 69
• Netcong: 75
• Mountain Lakes: 82
• Victory Gardens: 103
• Mendham Township: 107
• Mendham Borough: 128
• Riverdale: 134
• Chatham Borough: 41
• Mount Arlington: 142
• Chester Township: 148
• Long Hill: 156
• Mine Hill: 198
• Morris Plains: 209
• Boonton Township: 211
• Chatham Township: 234
• Rockaway Borough: 241
• Butler: 259
• Florham Park: 293
• Boonton: 297
• Kinnelon: 317
• Madison: 334
• Washington Township: 338
• East Hanover: 380
• Hanover: 418
• Denville: 444
• Wharton: 461
• Pequannock: 524
• Lincoln Park: 578
• Montville: 583
• Morris Township: 602
• Jefferson: 626
• Mount Olive: 692
• Roxbury: 725
• Rockaway Township: 756
• Randolph: 763
• Morristown: 1,109
• Dover: 1,520
• Parsippany: 1,673

The total number of cases for Morris County was 16,101.

Fluctuations in numbers from previous dates may be due to cases being transferred out of jurisdiction and/or further investigation revealing that the case was incorrectly reported to the NJDOH/local health department as confirmed.

The figures reflect COVID-19 positive cases as of the date and time indicated, some cases may be pending, or have yet to be entered into the system.

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store.