One More COVID Death In Westfield

WESTFIELD, NJ — As the highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19 spreads, Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle said Friday that the town has lost another resident to the virus.

"I am saddened to report an additional fatality," Brindle wrote on Friday, "an 83-year-old female ... bringing Westfield’s total number of COVID deaths to 59."

The town had also lost a resident to COVID in July. READ MORE: Westfield Had One Coronavirus Death In July

"Today, New Jersey reported the third straight day when hospitalizations surpassed 1,000 across the state," Brindle said Friday. "Locally, 38 cases were identified in Westfield between Aug. 20 and Aug. 26, up slightly from 36 the previous week."

The age range was:

• Age 9 and under: Nine cases
• Age 10-19: Four cases
• Age 20-29: Four cases
• Age 30-39: Four cases
• Age 40-49: Eight cases
• Age 50-59: Three cases
• Age 60-69: Three cases
• Age 70-79: Two cases
• Age 80-89: One case
• Age 90 and above: No cases

Brindle said that she has not yet obtained information about vaccination status of the afflicated, but will post it when she receives it.

How many Westfield residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine?

Officials say that 95 precent of those 65 and older, 94 percent of those 30 and older, 96 percent of the adult population (18+), and 76 percent of the entire Westfield population has been vaccinated with at least one dose. For fully vaccinated residents, the percents are: 91 percent of those 65 and older, 90 percent of those 30 and older, 90 percent of adults (18+), and 71 percent of the entire population.

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

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

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

More than 632,000 Americans have now died from COVID, up by 9,000 people since a week ago 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.

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.

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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