Mercer County’s COVID Cases Remain 'Very High:' See Town Updates

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — The coronavirus continues to take a grim toll on Mercer County, impacting local businesses and schools in the region, according to updated state data (see town-by-town totals below).

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

As of Friday, Mercer County reported 110 new cases, taking the cumulative total to 16,998. The previous week, the number of positive cases were 15,621.

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 over a seven-day average.

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.

Mercer County officials provided the following breakdown of cases by town:

East Windsor

• Daily cases: 18
• Total cases: 890

Ewing Township

• Daily cases: 12
• Total cases: 1, 186

Hamilton Township

• Daily cases: 36
• Total cases: 3,080

Hightstown Boro

• Daily cases: 1
• Total cases: 215

Hopewell Boro

• Daily cases: 0
• Total cases: 14

Hopewell Township

• Daily cases: 2
• Total cases: 279

Lawrence Township

• Daily cases: 10
• Total cases: 762

Pennington Boro

• Daily cases: 0
• Total cases: 31

Princeton

• Daily cases: 1
• Total cases: 327

Robbinsville Township

• Daily cases: 3
• Total cases: 285

Trenton City

• Daily cases: 40
• Total cases: 4,410

West Windsor Township

• Daily cases: 7
• Total cases: 329

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