Bernards Twp. Health Dept.: Don't Let Guard Down On COVID-19

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — As coronavirus cases and hospitalizations rise in New Jersey, the Bernards Township Health Department reiterated a simple message: don't let your guard down. Township Health Officer Lucy A. Forgione noted an uptick in cases from people in their 20s and younger, as well as people in their 50s.

Following a January spike, which peaked at 6,922 cases in one day, New Jersey's case totals leveled off in February. But since early March, the Garden State's transmission rate has fluctuated between 1 and 1.1 — indicating each case tends to lead to someone else getting infected. Health experts have associated transmission rates higher than one with higher community risk.

"I have said this before, but it bears repeating: now is not the time to let down your guard," Forgione wrote to residents. " ... Get vaccinated when you are able, continue to wash your hands and wear a mask, and continue to practice physical distancing."

The state ramped up vaccinations in recent weeks and has now inoculated 2.9 million people with at least one dose and fully vaccinated 1.7 million people. New Jersey must fully vaccinate 4.7 million by mid-June to reach its goal of inoculating 70 percent of adults in six months.

But meanwhile, cases and hospitalizations have increased. After reporting between 2,500 and 3,000 new daily cases for much of February, New Jersey averaged 3,939 new cases per day last week. Total people hospitalized with COVID-19 increased from 1,881 on March 4 to 2,292 Sunday.

State officials haven't pinpointed COVID-19 variants as the reason for the rise in cases, but Gov. Phil Murphy said March 22 he would hold off on further reopenings because of their presence in the region. Read more: Gov. Murphy: Surge In COVID Variants In NJ Will Delay Reopenings

The Bernards Township Health Department's roles during the pandemic include weekly updates, fielding questions from the public, working with schools and childcare centers, advising longterm-care facilities, contact tracing and responding to executive orders, Forgione says.

The state approved the local health department as a small COVID-19 vaccine site in February but didn't have enough doses to send them any to administer. Two months later, the state still hasn't allocated them any doses, Forgione says. Read more: Bernards Twp. Approved For COVID Vaccine Site But Faces Delays

In the meantime, the Bernards Township Health Department hired a vulnerable populations outreach coordinator, who will identify the most at-need residents and help connect them with vaccine appointments. When able, the department works to connect the elderly and others to appointments. They're also working with the Atlantic Visiting Nurses — the department's contracted nursing agency — to secure home visits and vaccines for the homebound.

If you know any vulnerable people not being engaged, contact covidvax@bernards.org.

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