Summit Gives Breakdown Of Local Coronavirus Cases

SUMMIT, NJ — The city of Summit reported Wednesday that there were no new coronavirus cases since Monday, and on Monday, they reported one new case since the previous report on Friday, July 31. That brings the total number of confirmed cases among Summit residents to 228 since early March.

There also have been 17 coronavirus-linked fatalities in Summit residents, none in the last month.

On Tuesday, the city reported that interviews conducted by the Westfield Regional Health Department for 16 cases in July have identified the following:

• Six reported cases among young people ages 19 and younger
• Three reported cases among people ages 20 to 24
• Two reported cases among people ages 30 to 34
• One reported cases among people ages 40 to 44
• Two reported cases among people ages 50 to 54
• One reported cases among people ages 55 to 59
• One reported cases among people ages 80 to 84

Of those cases, contact tracing interviewed have identified:

• Five cases with known exposure (from family or friends)
• Four cases did not report (no return call or incorrect contact information)
• Two cases associated with a party
• Two cases with no known exposure
• One case associated with travel to high-risk state
• One case declined to be interviewed

Additional statistics are available at https://www.cityofsummit.org/660/COVID-19

A week ago, on July 29, the city of Summit got a report from the local health department that two individuals had tested positive for coronavirus, one under 18 and one in the 19-24 age group. However, those were the only two positive cases reported in the city that week. Before that, the last positive cases were reported on July 15.

Young people and coronavirus

Two weeks ago, Gov. Phil Murphy said people should be aware of increasing cases of young people and younger adults with coronavirus, and how that would factor into school reopenings. Some towns, like Westfield and Hoboken, have seen an increase of cases linked to recent parties.

On Monday, Murphy said that he was reducing the limit on indoor gatherings to 25 people, after the state's transmission rate rose to 1.48. He cited dozens of recent cases of young adults catching the virus while at large house parties at Jackson and Middletown.

While most children and teens in the United States have avoided severe symptoms from the virus, they can transmit it to teachers, parents, and others. A large-scale study in South Korea, quoted widely in American media outlets from the New York Times to the Wall Street Journal, suggested that teens spread the virus at the same rate as adults, and more easily than younger children. The CDC also confirmed a large outbreak at a camp in Georgia in a press conference Friday.

Some North Jersey cities have said that their contract tracing showed that an uptick was partly due to out-of-state travel. States like Texas, Florida, and Arizona saw a record number of hospitalizations in July. See the daily total of cases and deaths in each U.S. state here.

New Jersey residents are now expected to quarantine after traveling to 34 states.

Summit school reopening information

• Summit released its school reopening plan on Tuesday. Schools reopen Sept. 1.
• The local teachers' union expressed concerns about the plan.
• The teachers may ask questions in a forum on Wednesday, and parents and all others can ask questions at a virtual forum on Thursday.
• Gov. Phil Murphy's administration released its broad school reopening guidelines to the districts late last month.

Testing

• For more information on local testing, talk to your physician, visit covid19.nj.gov/testing, or call 908-214-7107.
• Some insurance companies are waiving fees associated with coronavirus and antibody tests, including at urgent cares; check with your insurance.

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