Princeton Sees Uptick In COVID Cases, As Booster Drive Continues

PRINCETON, NJ —With the omicron variant representing 13 percent of COVID-19 cases in New York and New Jersey, Princeton too is seeing “high” COVID-19 activity.

As of Dec. 13, the Municipality saw 33 positive cases in 7 days and 57 cases in the past 14 days.

“I believe it’s a combination of winter months (more people spending more time indoors), increasing indoor gatherings/activities, and waning immunity from the initial series of vaccination,” said Jeff Grosser, Princeton Health Officer.

With COVID-19 related hospitalization surging in the Garden State, Grosser warns of another spike in January.

“The central-west region of New Jersey (which Mercer County / Princeton) are part of is considered ‘high’ on the COVID activity level index score as determined by the NJ Department of Health. This means there is substantial disease incidence in our area and with more people gathering for the holidays, it presents a legitimate possibility we will see another spike sometime in January resulting from holiday gatherings the last weeks of December,” Grosser said.

The vaccination rates in Princeton are among the highest in New Jersey. Residents aged 65, 80, and over have a 100 percent vaccination rate.

But many residents are yet to the booster dose. As of Dec. 7, 44 percent of the eligible population have received their booster shots in Princeton. Officials continue the local push to get more shots into arms.

A study conducted by Pzifer found that their booster dose had similar levels of antibodies as the initial two-shot regiment shown to work against the prior strain of the virus.

As a result, Gov. Phil Murphy and New Jersey Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli continue to urge residents to get vaccinated and get their boosters.

Here are upcoming vaccination clinics:
CURE Insurance Arena, Gate A South Broad Street entrance

• Monday, Dec. 20, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Appointments preferred, walk-ins welcome
• Tuesday, Dec. 21, 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Pediatric-focused clinic, limited walk-ins
• Monday, Dec. 27, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Appointments preferred, walk-ins welcome
• Tuesday, Dec. 28, 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Appointments preferred, walk-ins welcome
• Thursday, Dec. 30, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pediatric-focused clinic, limited walk-ins

930 Spruce St., Lawrence, heated tent next to Trenton Farmers Market

• Friday, Dec. 17, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Appointments preferred, walk-ins welcome
• Wednesday, Dec. 29, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Appointments preferred, walk-ins welcome

Pop-up Clinics

• Monday, Dec. 20, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Ewing Senior Center, 999 Lower Ferry Road, Ewing. Appointments preferred, walk-ins welcome
• Thursday, Jan. 6, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Mercer County Park Skating Center (trailer), Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Appointments preferred, walk-ins welcome

Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer vaccines, including booster shots, are available at all of the above clinics.

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