Princeton Police Officer Tests Positive For Coronavirus

PRINCETON, NJ — A Princeton police officer has tested positive for the new coronavirus, officials announced Saturday. Two other officers are currently awaiting tests.

"The officer began displaying symptoms on Sunday, March 22 and immediately took steps to self-isolate. The officer is currently not hospitalized and continues showing mild symptoms of COVID-19. The officer has written no citations, has made no arrests and has had limited contact with the public during the period of communicability," said Princeton Health Officer Jeffrey C. Grosser.

Anyone that had direct contact with the officer is being notified by the Princeton Health Department.

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After finding out the officer was not feeling well, all areas of the police department and patrol vehicles were disinfected.

Over the past several weeks the Princeton Police Department has also started taking measures to limit exposure. Only a small group of officers were exposed as a result and they are all being quarantined at this time.

"Positive tests among our health care workers and first responders are an eventuality that has been planned for by the Municipality of Princeton and the Princeton PD," said Frederick R. Williams, spokesman for Princeton who noted measures are being taken to safeguard the officers family, colleagues and the public.

As of Saturday Gov. Phil Murphy said there were 36 new cases of COVID-19 in Mercer County, bringing the county's total to 168.

The number of coronavirus cases in New Jersey has topped 11,000 and 140 people have died of the virus, Murphy also announced on Saturday during his daily update. He also reported that New Jersey had its highest one-day death toll. There were 32 deaths across the state overnight, the highest one-day death total since the first person died on March 10. (See Related: Gov. Murphy: NJ Coronavirus Cases Top 11K, 32 More Deaths)

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