Princeton Sees Uptick In COVID-19 Cases, Says Health Officer

PRINCETON, NJ — As COVID-19's Delta variant continues to spread in New Jersey, Princeton reported the highest seven-day average in COVID-19 cases since March, Health Officer Jeff Grosser said during Monday’s Town Council meeting.

Princeton had lagged a little bit in terms of uptake in cases the past few weeks. But due to the Delta variant “we're just starting to see the same increase that the rest of the state saw about three or four weeks ago,” Grosser said.

During Monday’s meeting, Grosser provided the Council with an update on the COVID-19 situation in town. In the past seven days, Princeton saw 12 new cases with the bi-weekly average trending towards 22.

“The majority of those new cases that we've seen through contact tracing and through case investigations were linked back to out of state, out of country travel, social gatherings, and then some of those social gatherings and some of those infections from the travel being linked to household clusters,” Grosser said.

Of the 12 cases investigated this week, eight were linked through contact tracing and household situations.

The vaccination rate in Princeton currently stands at 77 percent, with 95 percent of those 65 years and older fully vaccinated against COVID-19. However, vaccine uptake in Princeton for those over 12 years and older, has plateaued “in part due to the summer months and many residents traveling," Grosser said.

Grosser told the Council that according to what he’s been hearing from the New Jersey Department of Health, the COVID-19 vaccine will be made available to five- to 11-year-olds sometime in the early fall around September or October.

“It's not a localized situation where a few states might get hit, and then a few others appear to get spared. The Delta is clearly the dominant variant in the country,” Grosser said.

“The good news is that because of the level of vaccination, we most likely will not see a New Jersey surge that was equivalent in nature to what we saw in January, particularly with deaths and severe illness.”

Grosser said the community needs to be more cautious and continue to mask up even if vaccinated.

The Centers for Disease Control said that all of New Jersey's 21 counties have entered "high" or "substantial" levels of coronavirus transmission as of Monday.

As a result, the CDC now recommends masks in workplaces, public buildings, and stores in areas of substantial or high spread, regardless of vaccination status.

Read More Here: Masks Now Recommended In All 21 NJ Counties, CDC Says

Princeton recently updated its COVID-19 guidance, requiring all staff and visitors, unvaccinated and vaccinated, will have to wear masks at all municipal buildings.

Read More Here: Masks Required In Princeton Municipal Buildings Amid COVID Surge

The municipality is also taking extra measures to fight the spread of the Delta variant by regularly hosting vaccine clinics. The next community clinic is scheduled for Hines Plaza on Friday, August 27, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

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