Middlesex County’s Cases In COVID 'Red Zone:' See Town Updates

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ — Coronavirus continues to take a grim toll on Middlesex County, impacting local business and schools, according to the most recent state data.

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

As of Friday, Dec. 11, Middlesex County reported 36,787 total coronavirus cases. Consider that just a week ago, Dec. 4, there were 32,468 cases, meaning that Middlesex County saw more than 4,300 new cases in just the past week alone.

There were nine new COVID deaths over that same week, and five new deaths reported within the past 24 hours on Friday.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 36,787 total coronavirus cases in Middlesex County and 1,314 total deaths.

The “red zone” means the daily new COVID-19 virus case rate, per 100,000 people, rose to "very high" in all 21 counties. That means they exceed 25 cases per 1,000 people.

With the rise to a "high" level, state officials said, school districts in those counties may have to take more serious steps — such as quarantining or even shutting down schools — if a child shows the symptoms of COVID-19.

Some of the largest school districts in Middlesex County — Woodbridge, New Brunswick, East Brunswick, South Brunswick and North Brunswick — are all virtual until at least mid-January.

"When it is high risk, there are some recommendations that we make together with local school boards," said Edward Lifshitz, medical director for the state Department of Health.

The overall coronavirus risk rose to "high" in each of the counties because:

• The new daily case rate in each of the counties rose to 10 or more per 100,000 people.
• The percent of COVID-19-like illnesses rose above 5.52 in each of the counties.
• The percent of positive cases rose above 10.01.

Here is the town-by-town breakdown of coronavirus in Middlesex County, as of Friday, Dec. 11:

Woodbridge: 5,358 Reported Total Cases

70 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours

160 total reported deaths

Edison: 3,846 Reported Total Cases

47 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours

254 Reported Total Deaths

Metuchen: 346 Reported Total Cases

2 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours

3 Reported Total Deaths

New Brunswick: 3,115 Reported Total Cases

19 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours

84 Reported Total Deaths

East Brunswick: 1,376 Reported Total Cases

29 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours

65 Reported Total Deaths

South Brunswick: 1,092 Reported Total Cases

22 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours

36 Reported Total Deaths

Middlesex boro: 708 Reported Total Cases

8 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours

21 Reported Total Deaths

For all the towns in Middlesex County, see here: https://discovermiddlesex.com/...