Summit Gives Statistic On Residents In Hospital With Coronavirus

SUMMIT, NJ — The city of Summit reported on Tuesday that the total number of new coronavirus cases among residents for November was 215. Five residents are currently hospitalized with the virus, the city said. Their ages are 49, 75, 81, 90, and 93.

The November case number is a big difference from August, when the city had fewer than 10 new cases that month, after temporary closings of businesses and facilities.

The Westfield Regional Health Department reported that among the 215 new November cases:

• 72 cases remain under investigation;
• 38 cases unable to be contacted;
• 32 cases with no known exposures;
• 28 cases with positive household contacts;
• 16 cases with known exposures;
• Six cases refused an interview or were uncooperative;
• Six cases associated with youth sports;
• Five cases exposed at work;
• Three cases associated with a college;
• Three cases associated with travel;
• One case associated with a party; and
• Five cases are hospitalized (see above).

See Monday's story for age breakdowns.

There have been 734 total positive confirmed cases since March 2020, the city said. The number has been adjusted to reflect redistribution of some cases following contact tracing interviews.

A total of 18 Summit residents have died from the virus, the most recent a 102-year-old woman in October.

Approximately 22,000 people live in Summit.

Union County and national trends

Now that the state is in the second wave of the virus, most New Jersey counties are seeing a spike in cases. Eighteen of 21 New Jersey counties have been designated "high risk."

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.

Before Thanksgiving, Gov. Phil Murphy announced 4,383 new positive cases and 48 more confirmed fatalities in New Jersey since the day before — the highest daily increases since mid-July.

He said there were more than 2,500 hospitalizations statewide.

These numbers are still lower than at the height of the crisis in New Jersey, when 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.

More than 266,000 Americans and 14,900 people in New Jersey have died from the virus so far.

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.