Latest Ocean City Coronavirus Updates

OCEAN CITY, NJ — There's a lot of news to keep up with right now — locally, nationally and worldwide. Here's a recap of coronavirus updates in Ocean City and Cape May County.

Cases

The Cape May County Health Department has reported 16 active cases in Ocean City as of Monday morning. Seven people in Ocean City have been cleared off quarantine, and no one in the city has died from the virus, according to the CMCHD.

The County has reported 186 active cases, 85 people cleared off quarantine and 18 deaths as of Monday morning.

Here is the breakdown by municipality as of Monday morning:

• Two employees at Wawa on 34th Street tested positive for the coronavirus, the company told Patch last Tuesday. They last worked there April 12. MORE.
• State officials have reported coronavirus cases at six longterm-care facilities in Cape May County as of Friday — none in Ocean City. Victoria Manor in North Cape May has reported 53 cases and 12 deaths to the State. No deaths have been reported at any other Cape May County longterm-care facilities.

Testing

Cape May County drive-thru testing continues the next two Wednesdays. Testing is available for CompleteCare patients and county residents who are sick with symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath and meet a certain criteria.

Symptomatic first responders who are residents of the county will also be given priority testing. In order to receive testing, individuals can go to CompleteCareNJ.org/COVID19 or call 609-465-0258 and request to be screened. Web registration is best, according to officials.

If you are not a CompleteCare patient, obtain a script from your doctor. Once you have the script do the following:

1. Go to completecarenj.org.
2. Read the statement and click "I understand."
3. Click request an appointment on right of screen.
4. Complete requested information.
5. Await call from CompleteCare staff to review symptoms.
6. CompleteCare will forward script to Health Department.
7. Health Department staff will call and schedule the appointment.

"Most individuals have mild symptoms and are able to recover at home," said Health Officer Kevin Thomas. "If you can maintain your symptoms at home, we urge you to do so. Testing requires personal protective equipment, which we want to preserve for our first responders."

The test will be free of charge and no co-pay will be required for the screening. Translation services are available for those in need.

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Schools

• New Jersey schools will be closed through at least May 15, Governor Phil Murphy announced Thursday. MORE.
• The Ocean City School District has a resource guide for remote learning and support.
• The district is preparing for both physical and virtual end-of-the-year events, according to Superintendent Kathleen Taylor. "When we learn from Governor Murphy about the status of opening schools, and if there are restrictions, we will enact our plans accordingly," Taylor wrote in a letter to the school community.

Restrictions and Updates

• Ocean City and Cape May County have focused on a plan for the future. But much of that depends on efforts to stop the virus, said Mayor Jay Gillian. MORE.
• The coronavirus could affect every corner of life on the Jersey Shore this summer. Here's what the Jersey Shore has done so far and what could happen. MORE.
• The Barefoot County Music Fest, set for June in Wildwood, was postponed to June of next year. The festival will also hold a Thursday Night Concert Kick-Off Party on June 17, 2021, honoring health-care workers and other frontline employees. MORE.
• Open or closed? Patch created a a simple Open-or-Closed Directory for local businesses. Here's how to get listed.
• Cape May County created a Business Recovery Task Force. MORE.
• The Cape May County Board of Freeholders voted April 7 to prohibit hotels, motels and other short-term rental businesses from lodging transient guests or seasonal tenants. MORE.
• Ocean City's May 12 election will be conducted by mail. Here's how to vote.
• Ocean City closed its beaches and boardwalk March 25 until further notice. MORE.
• Cape May County toll bridges went cashless as a coronavirus precaution. This includes several bridges linked to Ocean City. MORE.

Here's what else you should know:

• Murphy issued a stay-at-home order, closing all non-essential business at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 21. Read more: Gov. Murphy Announces NJ 'Stay-At-Home' Order Due To Coronavirus
• Murphy announced on Thursday, April 16 that schools will remain closed through May 15. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Schools Shut Through May 15 In Coronavirus Crisis
• Murphy ordered stores across New Jersey on Wednesday, April 8 to require shoppers to wear face coverings or masks. Here's how you can get yours, and how the new rule will be enforced. Read more: NJ Shoppers Must Wear Masks: Where To Get Them, How It's Enforced
• Here are 10 resources for you and your family to utilize as you navigate through the outbreak: Unemployment, Tests, Food: 10 NJ Resources In Coronavirus Crisis
• New Jersey's courts suspended all new jury trials until further notice, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner said on Thursday, March 12. Read more: Coronavirus Throws Monkey Wrench Into New Jersey Court System
• Murphy said during a live press conference on Wednesday, March 25 that he's ordering many day care centers to shut amid the coronavirus outbreak. Read more: Gov. Murphy To Shut Many Day Care Centers Amid Coronavirus Crisis
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel advisory for New Jersey. Read more: CDC Travel Advisory For NJ: No Coronavirus Travel Ban From Trump
• On Friday, March 27, Murphy allowed more types of New Jersey businesses – including gun sellers – to operate in the coronavirus outbreak. What's open and closed now? Read more: What's Open, Closed? More NJ Business To Operate Amid Coronavirus
• Murphy announced on Tuesday, April 7 that state and county parks will close. Read more: Gov. Murphy Closes Parks On NJ Coronavirus Crisis's Deadliest Day

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