Summit Gives Age Breakdown Of 59 New Coronavirus Cases In 3 Days

SUMMIT, NJ — The city of Summit reported on Friday that the Westfield Regional Health Department had confirmed 59 new positive COVID-19 cases in Summit from last Tuesday through Thursday inclusive. There have now been 793 total positive confirmed cases in Summit since early March, the city said.

Eighteen Summit residents have died from the virus, including a 102-year-old woman in October.

The city has also adjusted its statistics and said there will be a shift in reporting.

Statistic adjustment

On Dec. 1, the city reported, "There have been 734* total positive confirmed cases since March 2020. *This number has been adjusted to reflect redistribution of some cases following contact tracing interviews." Three days earlier, on Nov. 28, the city had reported a total of 753 cases.

The city also said on Nov. 20 that due to a disparity between the state and the local numbers (which include rapid tests and are thus more up to date), they'd start reporting only the local health department numbers.

"The number of rapid tests being completed through private providers is increasing and, as a result, the city of Summit will be reporting weekly summaries of cases provided by the Westfield Regional Health Department on Friday afternoons," wrote a city spokesperson on Nov. 20. "We will not share daily numbers from the state of New Jersey Department of Health that do not include COVID-19 rapid test results."

Breakdown of last week's cases

The city said Friday that the 59 new cases included:

• 41 cases still under investigation;
• Six cases report no known exposure;
• Seven cases with positive household contacts;
• Two cases unable to contact;
• One case refused interview;
• One case is associated with long-term care facility; and
• Once case hospitalized (age 66).

Of recent cases investigated by the Westfield Regional Health Department, age breakdowns are as follows:

• 13 cases ages 18 and younger;
• 12 cases ages 19 to 29;
• 9 cases ages 30 to 39;
• 8 cases ages 40 to 49;
• 5 cases ages 50 to 59;
• 11 cases ages 60 to 69; and
• 1 case age 85 to 89.

Approximately 22,000 people live in Summit.

The city of Summit had reported a week ago that the total number of new coronavirus cases among residents for all of November was 215. The November case number was a big difference from August, when the city had fewer than 10 new cases, after temporary closings of businesses and facilities.

Summit and Union County trends

Now that the state is in the second wave of the virus, several Union County school districts have gone remote or plan to go remote after winter break for two weeks because of the designation. Summit schools will go remote for the first two weeks in January.

Brayton Elementary has also gone remote for two weeks. (See more here.)

New Jersey trends

More than 275,000 Americans and 15,000 people in New Jersey have died from the virus so far.

At the height of the crisis in New Jersey, 460 people died from the virus in 24 hours on April 30. READ MORE: 'I Cannot Get Air': When Local Woman Begged For Coronavirus Test

Doctors have said that a number of factors are contributing to the lower daily death rate as cases rise, including people getting test results (and thus treatment) sooner, more protective equipment available in hospitals, and doctors becoming better able to treat the virus. However, the virus still can have long-term effects.

Here are some other Summit coronavirus statistics and testing information:

SCHOOLS

• Summit school sports have been canceled for now because of the "high risk" designation in Union County.
• The Summit public schools will go remote for two weeks after winter break.
• Summit High School recently went remote for 14 days, and other schools have reported coronavirus cases.
• Schools in Summit reopened in early September with a hybrid plan.
• For past school reopening updates, click this story.

HOW TO GET TESTED

• Union County has added mobile walk-up test sites in addition to the drive-through testing site located at Kean University. Testing is free for Union County residents and is by appointment only with no car required; participants must wear masks and observe social distance. Any Union County resident can make an appointment for a test, whether they have symptoms. To pick a location, date and time, and to make an appointment online, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update/walk-up.
• Union County residents who need to make an appointment by phone can call 908-518-4307 for assistance. 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.

• To find out more, you can also contact your doctor, visit covid19.nj.gov/testing, or call 211.

NATIONAL STATISTICS

• Use this link to see the updated fatality count in the United States.
• More than 900 health care workers have died of the virus nationally.
• Others are simultaneously fighting misinformation and hoaxes as they try to fight the virus.

HOW TO GET HELP WITH HEAT, RENT, 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.
• Programs are being added constantly, so don't think you can't get help. Reach out to your local mayor's office to find out what kind of funds may be available to help you get through this time.

LONG-TERM CARE

• Recently, there were 159 long term care facilities with active outbreaks, the state Department of Health said this month. The state also announced that deaths at the facilities had more than doubled since May 1. The state has stopped updating the numbers at facilities without current outbreaks.
• New Jersey residents were already 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 temporarily to help make changes.
• The state released death toll statistics late in spring 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.

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

Got news? Email Caren.Lissner@patch.com. Want to be the first to get news alerts with breaking stories in Summit, or to get a free local newsletter each morning? Sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.