Westfield Issues Last Coronavirus Update Of 2020

WESTFIELD, NJ — Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle said in an update Tuesday night that the Department of Health reported 62 new cases of COVID-19 among Westfield residents from Dec. 18 to 23.

(More than 338,000 Americans had died of the virus as of Tuesday night.)

"Due to the holidays, this data reflects six days of cases instead of the usual seven days we report," Brindle wrote. "We will provide another update early next week that recaps the data for the entire month of December."

Westfield's death toll from the virus remains at 44.

Read another recent Westfield case breakdown from Dec. 20 here.

Of the 62 cases, officials reported:

• 2 cases were hospitalized (ages 65 and 94)
• 1 case was associated with a long term care facility
• 17 cases remain under investigation
• 13 cases had a positive household contact
• 8 cases were unable to be reached
• 8 cases had no known exposure
• 5 cases were exposed at work
• 3 cases were exposed by a friend

The ages of these cases ranged from 1 to 94:

• Age 9 and under: 8 cases
• Age 10-19: 7 cases
• Age 20-29: 12 cases
• Age 30-39: 7 cases
• Age 40-49: 6 cases
• Age 50-59: 12 cases
• Age 60-69: 2 cases
• Age 70-79: 6 cases
• Age 80-89: No cases
• Age 90 and above: 2 cases

Union County vaccinations

As part of Phase 1A in New Jersey’s COVID vaccination plan, health care workers will get vaccinated first. They can head to the following locations in Union County, so far:

• City of Elizabeth Health Department (418 Palmer St.)
• ShopRite Pharmacy of Clark (76 Central Ave.)
• ShopRite Pharmacy of Elizabeth (865 West Grand St.)

These sites are operating by appointment only and documentation of health care status will be required. A full list of vaccination sites for health care workers throughout New Jersey can be found here.

Information about who can get vaccinated next in New Jersey can be found here.

Nursing homes were to start vaccinating last week, but the process was delayed because the state missed a deadline.

Goodbye, 2020

Brindle said on Tuesday that she'll share her Year in Review on Wednesday, and at the Jan. 5 council meeting, she will give the annual State of the Town Address.

"I know we are all ready to welcome a new year and put 2020 behind us," Brindle said, "and I’m asking everyone again to please exercise caution and put all best practices in place when celebrating New Year’s Eve. As much as we all want to send this year off, please do so responsibly — without indoor gatherings and keeping at a safe distance outdoors — in order to help stop the spread of COVID. Thank you, as always, for continuing to look out for each other."

338,000 death toll

Click this link for the updated American death toll. A tenth of the American coronavirus deaths this year have occurred in the last two weeks.

Here are the states where the death rate has been rising most in the past seven days, according to the CDC.

Recently, New Jersey reached its highest daily death toll in six months from the virus, or 97 people in one day. More than 16,000 people have died of the virus in New Jersey.

Here is more information on Westfield coronavirus testing, statistics, and schools:

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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