Summit Police Chief Weck Tests Positive For Coronavirus

SUMMIT, NJ — Summit Police Chief Robert Weck has tested positive for coronavirus, a town spokesperson said Wednesday. Weck announced earlier this month that he would retire June 1 after 31 years with the department.

The city said that Weck began to experience flu-like symptoms approximately 10 days ago. He immediately sought medical attention and began to self-quarantine. A test was administered on March 24.

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The city said, "Contact tracing was completed; no other Summit police officers or administrative staff has exhibited symptoms associated with the COVID-19 coronavirus. Chief Weck is at recovering at home."

While Weck is on medical leave, Captain Andrew Bartolotti will serve as Officer in Charge and be responsible for the daily operation of the Summit Police Department.

The city said that 40 Summit residents had tested positive for the virus as of Wednesday morning.

This week, the state said that 288 police officers in New Jersey had tested positive for the virus.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday there were 355 deaths in the Garden State from coronavirus, including eight in a Wanaque nursing home. More than 22,255 residents are confirmed to have it. More are waiting for test results, which often take several days.

Experts say that the novel coronavirus, because it's new, is more lethal and much harder to treat than the flu.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

Residents who have questions about coronavirus can call 211 or contact the State of New Jersey's hotline at 1 (800) 222-1222.

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