COVID Cases, Deaths In Union County: This Week's Rates Amid Delta

UNION COUNTY, NJ — There were more COVID-19 cases but fewer deaths over the past week in Union County, as the highly transmissible Delta variant of the virus continues to spread.

There were three COVID deaths countywide over the past seven days, down slightly from four the week before.

Nationally, the virus claimed 14,000 more lives since a week ago.

New Jersey has the ninth lowest rate of COVID deaths per capita right now. See the list of states here.

The COVID vaccine is 95 percent effective against the virus, according to medical professionals, and when vaccinated people may have "breakthrough cases" amid Delta, there is a lower chance of hospitalization or death than if not vaccinated, they say.

As of Friday, Sept. 17, there had been a total of 65,201 cases of coronavirus in Union County. That's up 602 from the previous Friday, close to the same rate as the week before.

A week ago, there were 64,599 cases of coronavirus in Union County since the beginning of the pandemic, which was 615 new cases since a week earlier. A week before that, that number was 63,984, up 484 from the previous Friday.

There have also been a total of 1,784 confirmed deaths in Union County, according to the state, which is 3 new deaths since the previous Friday. From that Friday to a week earlier, there were four new deaths. The weeks before that, there were eight and four.

New Jersey Hospitalizations Up; More On Ventilators

As of Friday, Sept. 17, 1,150 people in New Jersey were battling COVID in hospitals. Of those, 142 were on ventilators to help them breathe. Here are prior weeks' numbers:

• Friday, Sept. 10, 1,167 were hospitalized in New Jersey with COVID and 128 were on ventilators.
• Friday, Sept. 3, 1,054 people in New Jersey were being treated in hospitals for COVID, 109 on ventilators.
• Friday, Aug. 27, 1,022 people were hospitalized with COVID, 98 on ventilators.
• Friday, Aug. 20: 923 hospitalized, 73 on ventilators.

More than 668,442 Americans have now died from COVID, up from 654,409 people the previous Friday. The previous Friday, the death toll had also climbed 11,000 since the Friday before. You can see which states have the highest recent death rates here.

'High' COVID Activity

This week, the Central East region including Union County and three other counties still showed still showed "high" COVID activity, according to New Jersey's latest weekly report.

The determination is based on metrics such as case rate and positivity rate. And it may be used in determining school districts' protocols and other health measures.

Where To Get Vaccinated Locally

The COVID vaccine is 95 percent effective against the virus, according to medical professionals, and while vaccinated people may have "breakthrough cases," there is a lower chance of hospitalization or death for those vaccinated.

Find out more about COVID booster shots here: Third COVID Shots Offered In Union County As Delta Spreads

Union County residents can contact the Westfield Regional Health Department by calling 908-789-4070, the County of Union at ucnj.org, or Atlantic Health System at atlantichealth.org.

Union County has two vaccination sites: at the Thomas Dunn Sports Center in Elizabeth and Downs Hall at Kean University in Union. To learn more about the sites click here. You can also inquire at pharmacies and medical offices.

Read More About COVID And NJ:

• The Latest Data, Details On Breakthrough COVID-19 Cases In NJ
• COVID Hospitalizations Spike In NJ As Delta Variant Spreads
• Mayor: Westfield Had One Coronavirus Death In July
• NJ Mom Urges: Please Listen to COVID 'Long-Haulers'
• 4 Things To Know About The Delta Variant Of Coronavirus In NJ
• New Jersey Town Says: Get Vaccinated Or No Spaghetti For You
• Rise In Child COVID Hospitalizations Prompts Vaccination Plea
• NJ Hospital Preps For COVID Surge As Kids Set To Return To School

More Information

• 98 percent to 99 percent of recent COVID deaths were unvaccinated people, according to one study earlier this summer.
• Here is information on vaccine side effects, including the most rare but severe effects.
• COVID survivors may suffer from long-term symptoms.

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