Millburn Updates Its Coronavirus Statistics

MILLBURN, NJ — Millburn Mayor Jackie Lieberberg released a coronavirus update on Friday saying there are currently 159 residents of Millburn Township who have tested positive for the virus since the beginning of the pandemic.

Six residents in total have passed away.

The total of residents testing positive has climbed by only eight since a report over a month ago, on July 9, when there were 151 cases in town.

"The confirmed cases in Millburn is cumulative and residents are not removed from this count once they recover," the mayor noted. "At times these numbers can change when contact tracing is complete and it is verified that a positive result should be counted in another community or county."

As of this past Thursday, 165,000 Americans had died of coronavirus, and more than 5 million have tested positive.

As of late Sunday, 35 states remained above the positive testing rate recommended by the World Health Organization to safely reopen. WHO recommends states remain at 5 percent or lower for at least 14 days. Read more: More Kids Getting Coronavirus.

In New Jersey on Thursday, Gov. Phil Murphy said the number of coronavirus cases statewide has risen to 186,594, with 14,054 confirmed deaths. That included 699 new cases since the day before and eight newly confirmed deaths.

However, that death rate has declined since back on April 30, when it reached a peak of 460 residents in 24 hours.

Many other states reached record daily death rates in July (see the daily totals in each state here). They pulled back on some reopenings, including Texas, which closed bars after seeing record hospitalizations and deaths (updated by one hospital system here).

On Tuesday, New Jersey updated its list of states that residents must quarantine upon returning from. Two new states have been added. Read more: NJ Updates Coronavirus Travel Quarantine For 31 States

Here are other Millburn/Short Hills and Essex County coronavirus updates on testing, reopenings, and more:

SCHOOLS

• Millburn Superintendent of Schools Christine Burton sent an email on Friday with updates about school reopening. Follow the Return to School site for news and updates.
• Burton advised parents with an interest in the state safety recommendations to read this new state document: NJ DOH COVID Recommendations for Schools.pdf.

TESTING

• To make an appointment at the Essex County testing center, or to see if local mobile testing will be provided to your area, visit www.EssexCOVID.org or call 973-324-9950.
• You can also contact your physician or the state 211 hotline for more information.

OUTDOOR DINING

• Outdoor dining resumed in New Jersey on June 15, with precautions. Read about Millburn's first weekend of outdoor dining here.
• Mayor Lieberberg noted on Friday, "Please be advised that Main Street will be closed to vehicular traffic through August 30. We invite you all to dine and experience all of Millburn’s great restaurants and businesses. Take a stroll, say hello to your neighbors and continue to be vigilant about social distancing protocols and mask wearing. Free parking continues until September 1, 2020. Time limits still apply."

LOCAL BUSINESS/JOBS

• Hair salons and other personal care businesses were able to reopen June 22. State rules can be found here.
• Read more about unemployment, small business, and other coronavirus regulations and benefits in New Jersey here.
• Turtleback Zoo has job opportunities in guest relations, paddle boats, Treetop Adventure, parking and maintenance, must be 18 years of age. Please visit the link for a list of available jobs and how to apply: https://buff.ly/2QWodaV

HOSPITALS/NURSING HOMES

• New Jersey residents have become alarmed at the high number of residents who have passed away in nursing homes, rehabs, and similar facilities, and have charged that the facilities are undercounting the numbers and not adequately protecting residents and staff. The state has faced questions for weeks from the press about how they will address the problems.
• There is now a state website with numbers for people at individual nursing homes.
• You can report immediate issues with long term care facilities here, or if you suspect coronavirus related misconduct that should be reported to the Attorney General, here.
• Some long-term care facilities have begun allowing socially distanced visits.
• Local hospitals updated their visitor guidelines recently. Read more here.

GIVING AND GETTING HELP

• To find out about help for the needy and seniors, or get food or food bank information, check your town's website or contact the town.
• To read about Feed the Front Lines, click here.

Here are additional statewide coronavirus resources:

• NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/
• General COVID-19 questions: 2-1-1
• NJ COVID-19 hotline: (800) 222-1222

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