As Cases Surge, How Much Is COVID Spreading In Greater Morristown?

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Coronavirus cases in New Jersey have hit record highs recently, with COVID-19 hospitalizations hitting their highest total since February. Here's what's happening in Greater Morristown.

Cases

Morris County averaged 776.8 infections per day this past week, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. That's more than seven times the amount of daily new cases this week a month ago, when the county averaged 103.

Here are the local case numbers:

• Morristown saw 328 new cases from Dec. 17 to Wednesday, bringing the town to 2,969 cases since the pandemic began. That's an increase of 12.4 percent to Morristown's case total in 11 days.
• Officials reported 337 Morris Township infections in that span, putting the township at 2,392 cases since the onset of the pandemic. The case total increased by 16.4 percent since Dec. 17.
• Morris Plains's case total grew from 731 to 851 for a 16.4 percent increase.

Hospital Capacities

Here are the local hospital ICU statistics as of the week of Dec. 16 — the most recently available data — according to the Department of Health and Human Services:

• Morristown Medical Center: 31.61 percent of ICU beds available
• Saint Clare's Denville Hospital: 63.89 percent of ICU beds available
• Kindred Hospital New Jersey - Morris County (Dover): ICU bed data unavailable
• Overlook Medical Center (Summit): 51.54 percent of ICU beds available
• Saint Barnabas Medical Center (Livingston): 50 percent of ICU beds available

Vaccine Data

As of Wednesday morning, 39 percent of fully vaccinated people in Morris County have received a booster dose.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 77.8 percent of Morris County's vaccine-eligible population — people 5 and older — have completed their first round of vaccinations.

See information on booster eligibility.

Here's What Else You Should Know

• Mayor Tim Dougherty re-instituted a mask requirement in Morristown because of the spike in new COVID-19 cases and the emergence of the omicron variant. The executive order applies to all Morristown businesses and venues open to the public. Read more.
• Looking for a COVID test? Here's what to know about Morristown's local testing centers.
• Booster shots are available around Greater Morristown. Here's where to find them.

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