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

UNION COUNTY, NJ — There's good news and bad news in New Jersey as the highly transmissible Delta variant of the virus continues to spread around the country.

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

More than 700,000 AmericansMore than 700,000 Americans have now died from COVID, up from 668,442 people a week ago Friday.

In Union County

As of Sunday, Oct. 3, there had been a total of 66,426 COVID cases confirmed and 1,797 COVID deaths in Union City since the start of the pandemic. A little over a week ago, on Saturday, Sept. 25, there had been 65,991 cases since the start, meaning an increase of 435 in the eight-day period, a lower rate than in recent weeks.

The death toll since last Friday is up five, which is close to the rate of past weeks.

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

As of Friday, Sept. 17, there had been a total of 65,201 cases of coronavirus in Union County. That was up 602 from the previous Friday, close to the same rate as the week before. On Sept. 17, there had been a total of 1,784 confirmed deaths in Union County, according to the state, which was 3 new deaths since the previous Friday. The week before, there were four new deaths. The weeks before that, there were eight and four.

New Jersey Hospitalizations Up; More On Ventilators

On Sunday, Oct. 3, there were 1,025 people battling COVID in New Jersey hospitals. Of those, 134 needed ventilators to help them breathe.

Here are prior weeks' New Jersey hospitalization and ventilator numbers:

• On Saturday, Sept. 25, 1,068 people were in New Jersey hospitals battling coronavirus, according to state statistics; 129 of them on ventilators.
• Friday, Sept. 17, 1,150 people were battling COVID in New Jersey hospitals. Of those, 142 were on ventilators.
• 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.

Numbers of deaths and hospitalizations were coming down in New Jersey during spring as people got vaccinated, but with the Delta variant, the disease spread faster over the summer.

Where To Get Vaccinated Locally

The 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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