Five Summit Kids Away At College Tested Positive For Coronavirus

SUMMIT, NJ — The New Jersey Department of Health said on Thursday that there was one new case of coronavirus in a Summit resident since the previous day, bringing the total number of resident cases since the beginning of the pandemic to 246. On Friday, that number remained the same.

Also on Friday, the city gave a breakdown of the September cases so far, saying five of them, or almost half, were Summit residents away at college.

There have been a total of 11 new cases since Sept. 1, when the total was announced at 235.

The city received the following information from the Westfield Regional Health Department:

• Five cases were students living at college and not physically in Summit (using Summit address for paperwork);
• Three cases with other positive household contacts;
• One case with patient with a known exposure;
• One case with patient that traveled to a high risk state; and
• One case with patient that did not return calls from contact tracers.

The age breakdowns were as follows:

• One case under the age of 18;
• Five cases ages 19 to 24;
• One case age 35 to 39;
• Two cases ages 40 to 44; and
• One case age 45 to 49.

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The total fatalities are 17, the last reported on June 17. See a recent update here.

Additional information is available at https://www.cityofsummit.org/660/COVID-19.

New testing information

The new schedule of free drive-through testing at Kean University begins Monday.

The Union County Mobile Test Unit also will continue visiting local communities to provide free walk-up tests.

The drive-through will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. The Drive-Through Test Center is available by appointment to all Union County residents, and to first responders and front line medical workers regardless of their residence.

It is not necessary to experience a fever, coughing, or other symptoms in order to use the Drive-Through Test Center or the Mobile Test Unit. Anyone who is concerned about their exposure can receive a free test, without needing a doctor’s referral.

“We continue to urge Union County residents, as well as front line emergency and medical workers, to make an appointment at the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “If you have any concerns about your risk of contracting or spreading covid-19, a test will help you to make informed decisions that help keep the Union County family safe.”

To book an appointment at the Drive-Through Test Center online, visit ucnj.org. Please note that a car is required to use this service. If additional assistance is needed, call 908-214-7107.

To see the Mobile Test Unit walk-up schedule, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update/walk-up. An appointment is required unless otherwise noted.

Union County residents can use any Mobile Test Unit walk-up site, regardless of the municipality in which they live.

Upcoming dates and locations for the mobile test unit are: Rahway: American Legion, 581 Maple Ave., Sept. 24

Municipal governments, non-profit organizations and other community groups can call the Union County Office of Emergency Management at 908-654-9881 to request a visit from the Mobile Test Unit in their community.

Residents are urged to continue observing precautions against spreading the virus, including wearing a face mask, maintaining social distance, and washing hands frequently.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for using the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University and a list of locations for walk-up tests, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.

For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

School information

Summit Superintendent of Schools Scott Hough announced Thursday — nine days after schools reopened — that a Summit Middle School student tested positive for coronavirus.

The Summit schools reopened for students on Sept. 1.

In New Jersey, 388 districts are opening with hybrid plans where students can attend part of the day, 238 are all remote, and only 60 are offering full-time in person.

While most children who test positive for coronavirus will recover from it, they can spread it to others. Some have lost a parent, both parents, teachers, or siblings.

Other coronavirus statistics

• More than 196,000 Americans have now died of coronavirus, and more than 6.6 million have tested positive.
• More than 900 health care workers have died of the virus nationally. Others are simultaneously fighting misinformation as they try to fight the virus.
• A false claim was removed from Twitter last week that misstated that only 9,000 people died from the virus. The confusion stemmed from the fact that people who died of the virus also were confirmed to have died from pneumonia caused by the virus, and other factors.

How to get help with rent, heat, and more

• During the State of Emergency in New Jersey, no tenant is permitted to be evicted from their home or apartment for the inability to pay rent. Talk to your local mayor's office if you are experiencing difficulties.
• The CARES act has made money available to help with rent in each city. More information is here.
• New Jersey residents can get help with heating and energy bills. Information is here.
• Various other avenues of relief and benefits have also been made available, including family leave for 12 weeks if you can't work due to your child's school or camp being closed, and changes to unemployment rules to help those who were at a job for a short time, or freelancing.

Long-term care

• Right now, there are 159 long term care facilities with active outbreaks, the state Department of Health said on Wednesday. The state also announced that deaths at the facilities had more than doubled since May 1. The state announced it will make some long-term changes for the facilities.
• New Jersey residents have become alarmed at the high number of residents who have passed away in nursing homes, rehabs, and similar facilities. The state announced plans in May to increase testing at some long term care facilities and to bring in the National Guard to help make changes.
• The state released death toll statistics for long-term care facilities like rehabs and nursing homes. See the list here.
• You can report problems with long term care facilities here, or if you suspect coronavirus related misconduct, here.
• Some New Jersey long-term care facilities reopened for limited visits, with precautions, in July.
• Other states have been dealing with nursing home deaths more recently, including a recent outbreak in a Texas nursing home.

Here are statewide coronavirus resources:

• NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/
• General COVID-19 questions: 2-1-1
• NJ COVID-19 hotline: (800) 222-1222

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