COVID In Union County: This Week's Update On Cases Amid Delta

UNION COUNTY, NJ — As the Delta variant of COVID-19 spreads, cases are up in Union County from last week.

As Friday, Aug. 27, there had been a total of 63,500 cases confirmed in Union County since the start of the pandemic, which is a 670 increase since the previous Friday. There have also been a total of 1,769 confirmed deaths in Union County, according to the state, which is four deaths since the Friday before.

The week before, on Friday, Aug. 20, there had been a total of 62,830 confirmed cases in Union County since the start of the pandemic, up 566 cases since the previous Friday. And there were 1,767 total deaths countywide, up two deaths since the week before, according to the state.

As of the previous Friday, Aug. 13, there had been a total of 62,264 cases confirmed in Union County since the start of the pandemic, and 1,765 confirmed deaths, according to the state.

The numbers will be compared with next Friday's numbers during the next weekly roundup.

'High' COVID Activity

This week, the Central East region including Union County showed "high" COVID activity, according to New Jersey's latest weekly report. The determination is based on metrics such as case rate and positivity rate.

As of Friday, 1,022 people in New Jersey were hospitalized with COVID, a number that's been steadily creeping back up since spring (click the "hospital census" tab to view numbers). Of those, 98 are on ventilators to help them breathe. These numbers are up from 923 and 73 a week ago.

More than 632,000 Americans have now died from COVID, up by 9,000 people since last Friday. Most of those hospitalized with the virus are unvaccinated, say officials at the hospitals. You can see which states have the highest recent death rates here.

READ MORE: NJ Cracks 1,000 COVID Cases For First Time Since May

Where To Get Vaccines And Booster Shots

The COVID vaccine is 95 percent effective against the virus, according to medical professionals, and while vaccinated people may have "breakthrough cases," there is a lower chance of hospitalization or death for those vaccinated.

Find out more about COVID booster shots here: Third COVID Shots Offered In Union County As Delta Spreads

To get the vaccine, Union County residents can contact the Westfield Regional Health Department by calling 908-789-4070, the County of Union at ucnj.org, or Atlantic Health System at atlantichealth.org.

Union County has two vaccination sites: at the Thomas Dunn Sports Center in Elizabeth and Downs Hall at Kean University in Union. To learn more about the sites click here. You can also inquire at pharmacies and medical offices.

The county also has mobile pop-up vaccination sites coming up including:

• Saturday, Aug. 28 – Roselle 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Held during the County's Food Distribution Event, Warinanco Park in Roselle Warinanco Park Roadway J & J / Pfizer Vaccines Available. See ucnj.org for more information and updates.

According to local officials, in Union County, 372,444 (67 percent of the total population) have received one dose of vaccine, and 329,466 (59 percent of the total population) are fully vaccinated. Children under 12 can not yet get the vaccine.

Read More About COVID And NJ:

• COVID Hospitalizations Spike In NJ As Delta Variant Spreads
• Mayor: Westfield Had One Coronavirus Death In July
• NJ Mom Urges: Please Listen to COVID 'Long-Haulers'
• 4 Things To Know About The Delta Variant Of Coronavirus In NJ
• New Jersey Town Says: Get Vaccinated Or No Spaghetti For You
• Rise In Child COVID Hospitalizations Prompts Vaccination Plea
• NJ Hospital Preps For COVID Surge As Kids Set To Return To School

More Information

• 98 percent to 99 percent of recent COVID deaths were unvaccinated people, according to one study earlier this summer.
• Here is information on vaccine side effects, including the most rare but severe effects.
• COVID survivors may suffer from long-term symptoms.

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