Coronavirus In West Orange: 13 Deaths, Confusion Over Case Count

WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange has seen more than 350 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 as of Tuesday, officials said.

The COVID-19 totals in West Orange include 13 deaths linked to the disease, according to Essex County officials.

Mayor Robert Parisi said that there was previously some confusion over the total number of COVID-19 cases in the township. On Tuesday, he explained:

“There are 35 additional confirmed cases since yesterday bringing the West Orange total to 368 reported cases. This number has been officially amended by 14 as investigations into each case has determined that 14 originally confirmed cases, actually reside in other towns. Residents living in one of the many senior care facilities are initially reported as a West Orange case until the investigation determines whether or not they reside in other communities. The official reporting, based on state guidelines, uses the actual residence. Therefore, 14 reported cases initially attributed to West Orange have been removed from our active case count.”

Parisi added:

“Additionally, of the now 354 reported West Orange confirmed cases, 14 are now reported as completely recovered. The number of active West Orange cases is now 340. Of these 340 active cases, currently 18 are hospitalized and six of those are in ICU. The rest are recovering at home.”

Parisi continued:

“The investigation process is detailed and time consuming and often relying on information from the healthcare system that is also overwhelmed. The West Orange Office of Emergency Management’s (OEM) team along with our Nursing Staff is working around the clock to provide thorough and full investigations and provide all necessary contact tracing and necessary notifications. We are providing daily support for our residents and neighbors in need and providing meals to many residents and to our Senior Citizen buildings. Social media cannot begin to clearly outline how much work is being done by these dedicated professionals, with dozens of new cases added every day. The rapid pace in which they are responding to this virus has hardly left time to document their heroics.”

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