New Westfield Coronavirus Cases Include 2-Month-Old

WESTFIELD, NJ — In her weekly coronavirus case update on Friday, Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle said that help is on the way after more than 317,000 Americans have died from the virus in less than a year, 1,327 of those in Union County.

There were 71 new cases in Westfield from Dec. 11 through this past Thursday (a one-week period), Brindle said, the youngest a 2-month-old. The baby was not hospitalized, but two people were (ages 72 and 79).

Help is on the way, but "It’s important to remember that the state’s plan aspires to a 70 percent vaccination level, which will take time," she noted.

[Westfield schools will go remote for the week after winter break; read more here.]

Brindle said: "Regional Health Officer Megan Avallone reports the wonderful news that Union County could receive the initial doses of the vaccine as early as next week. Once the vaccine is received, Union County will begin rolling out its vaccination plan for the 1A category of health care workers."

Those getting the vaccine first in New Jersey include front-line medical workers, funeral home workers (as they could be exposed), and lab technicians. Read more: Here's Who Is Getting The COVID-19 Vaccine First In New Jersey

People in nursing homes were supposed to get the vaccine this week, but the state missed a deadline so that process has been delayed.

Meanwhile, Brindle wrote, "Please continue to keep up with best practices like social distancing, avoiding indoor gatherings, and wearing a face covering — all of which remain critically important in helping to slow the spread while we wait for the vaccine."

Of the 71 new cases in Westfield, Brindle said, "21 cases had no known exposure," meaning the person wasn't exactly sure where he or she got it.

Of the rest:

• 14 cases had a positive household contact
• 13 cases were unable to be reached
• 12 cases remain under investigation
• 6 cases had known exposure
• 2 were hospitalized (ages 79 and 72)
• 2 cases were exposed by a friend
• 1 case refused the interview

The ages of these cases ranged from 2 months old to 79, broken down as follows:

• Age 9 and under: 6 cases
• Age 10-19: 6 cases
• Age 20-29: 13 cases
• Age 30-39: 9 cases
• Age 40-49: 10 cases
• Age 50-59: 13 cases
• Age 60-69: 9 cases
• Age 70-79: 4 cases
• Age 80-89: No cases
• Age 90 and above: No cases
• Age unconfirmed: 1 case

Brindle wrote, "These numbers reflect the Health Department’s COVID numbers, inclusive of rapid tests, as they are a more accurate reflection of community spread than what is being reported by the state reporting system. Details on the official statewide numbers, which do not include rapid tests, can always be found on the NJ Department of Health COVID-19 Dashboard.

"The state’s seven-day average for new cases is down 3.5 percent from a week ago, but 27.6 percent higher than a month ago. Today, Governor Murphy reported that statewide hospitalizations, transmission rate, and positivity rate all decreased — not yet over enough consecutive days to form a trend, but moving in the right direction."

In Westfield, 44 residents have died from the virus, including one last month.

To see the totals for Westfield for November, read: Westfield Coronavirus Cases: November Four Times As High As July

Death rate in New Jersey

At the height of the crisis in New Jersey, when testing and PPE were scarce, 460 people died from the virus in 24 hours on April 30.

The death rate had, for several months, been plummeting as people stayed inside and took precautions. Back on Sept. 8, the state announced two new deaths confirmed in 24 hours.

But deaths began rising again with gatherings, reopenings, and travel to states with higher transmission.

Last week, New Jersey reached its highest death toll in six months from the virus, or 97 people in one day.

Doctors have said that a number of factors are contributing to the fact that the daily death rate is still lower than spring, 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 16,000 people in New Jersey have now passed away from the virus.

New Jersey was supposed to get more doses of the vaccine than it did, Patch reported over the weekend. The federal government has apologized.

The state Department of Health's most recent "COVID-19 Activity Level Report," which is issued weekly, says Union County is in the “red zone” for coronavirus cases.

Where to get tested in Union County, and other Westfield updates

SCHOOLS

• Westfield schools will go remote for the week after winter break. Schools in Cranford and Summit have made similar plans.
• With 174 students quarantined, Westfield schools went remote through Dec. 14.

HOW TO GET TESTED

• Union County has added mobile walk up test sites in addition to the 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.

WESTFIELD ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT/DINING

• Indoor dining is allowed at 25 percent capacity, ending at 10 p.m. For a list of rules, click here.
• To read about outdoor dining in Westfield, click here.
• Gov. Murphy signed an executive order allowing gyms, health clubs, and indoor amusement facilities to reopen at 25 percent capacity effective Sept. 1. Equipment must be adjusted to allow a minimum of six feet of distance, and must be sanitized between uses. Everyone must wear masks. More details can be found here.

NATIONAL TRENDS

• 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.

LONG-TERM CARE

• Recently, there were 159 long term care facilities with active outbreaks, the state Department of Health said last month. The state announced that deaths at the facilities had more than doubled since May 1.
• New Jersey residents became 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.
• The state released death toll statistics 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

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