63 Percent Of Moorestown Coronavirus Cases Are From Nursing Homes

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Burlington County Freeholder Linda Hynes provided an update on the coronavirus pandemic in the county and the township during Moorestown's council meeting Monday night. The meeting was held via telephone.

As of Monday evening, there were 233 cases of the coronavirus in Moorestown, with 42 fatalities. No new deaths were reported in the county on Monday, according to officials.

The township’s long-term care facilities accounted for about 63 percent of these cases in the township, Hynes said. There have been 299 cases and 50 deaths, according to statistics posted online by the state. The state doesn’t differentiate between staff and residents when detailing cases.

Throughout Burlington County, there are now 3,894 cases of the coronavirus with 245 fatalities. Seventy-two new cases were reported over the weekend, and contact tracing is underway in all new cases.

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Hynes said the number of new cases had been on the decline, but there was an uptick over the weekend. The theory is that new cases are the result of families having greater contact on Mother's Day, although she pointed out that is just a theory.

Two of Moorestown's nursing homes were pilots for universal testing, which lead to an increase in reported cases in the township. Moorestown is one of the hardest hit towns in the county when it comes to coronavirus, Hynes said.

It wasn't clear when universal testing would begin in nursing homes, but the department of health posts new numbers for nursing homes each Wednesday, Hynes said.

Here are the latest local updates from Moorestown:

TESTING
Burlington County is now testing residents for coronavirus, whether they have symptoms or not. The Department of Health will continue its policy of testing non-resident first responders and hospital employees working in Burlington County who present their employee IDs.

County testing takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays and is located at the Emergency Services Training Center behind the Burlington County Institute of Technology off Woodlane Road in Westampton.

No doctor's prescription is needed, and appointments can be made for free. To make an appointment, call 609 726-7097. To access the testing site and to ensure accuracy make appointments using the name on your official ID.

BUSINESS
Non-essential businesses in New Jersey were permitted to reopen for curbside pickup Monday morning, with the mayor and the head of the business association saying now is the right time for it. They hope local businesses will be able to recover after being forced to close mid-way through March.

Moorestown Patch has set up a directory business owners can use to let people know they are open. Details on the directory and the form to enter your business can be found here.

SCHOOLS
Schools remain closed and the district has not said what will be done for graduation. The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Tuesday night, and residents can participate through Zoom. Instructions are on the school district’s website.

Patch is building a virtual yearbook, profiling local grads from across Moorestown and all of New Jersey, and we need your help to do it. Instructions on how to participate can be found here.

THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT
The Burlington County Health Department has released a new app about coronavirus that is available for free in the Apple Store and Google Play. Download this app for up to date information specifically geared to Burlington County residents.

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