Ocean County’s Weekly COVID-19 Cases Up 3.8 Percent: See Updates

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — The coronavirus continues to take a toll on Ocean County, impacting local businesses and schools in the region, according to updated state data (see town-by-town totals below).

Ocean County reported 45,864 cases on Friday, an increase of 1,685 and 3.81 percent over the 44,179 from Jan. 30. It is a much smaller percentage increase than in January, showing a slowing in the spread of cases.

The rise is reflected in the state Department of Health's most recent "COVID-19 Activity Level Report," which is issued weekly. The most recent report, released Thursday, says Ocean County is still in the "red zone" for coronavirus cases.

The "red zone" means the daily new COVID-19 virus case rate still exceeds 25 cases per 100,000 people over a seven-day average.

The latest reports say the overall coronavirus activity level also remains at "high," or "orange," in all 21 New Jersey counties.

At 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.

"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 is "high" in each of the counties because:

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

All of those numbers have decreased in the last two weeks.

Ocean County officials provided the following breakdown of cases by town. In parentheses is the number of cases for the town as of Jan. 16. If the town shows a decrease, it reflects a correction based on the person's actual address as opposed to mailing address.

• Barnegat Light 24 (23)
• Barnegat Township 1,343 (1,287)
• Bay Head 48 (47)
• Beach Haven 40 (39)
• Beachwood 765 (734)
• Berkeley Township 2,983 (2,876)
• Brick Township 5,861 (5,699)
• Eagleswood Township 108 (103)
• Harvey Cedars 11 (11)
• Island Heights 87 (83)
• Jackson Township 4,200 (4,044)
• Lacey Township 1,751 (1,689)
• Lakehurst 199 (197)
• Lakewood Township 10,843 (10,341)
• Lavallette 122 (117)
• Little Egg Harbor Township 1,150 (1,121)
• Long Beach Township 138 (133)
• Manchester Township 2,968 (2,875)
• Mantoloking 12 (12)
• Ocean Gate 122 (119)
• Ocean Township (Waretown) 385 (368)
• Pine Beach 111 (105)
• Plumsted Township 392 (389)
• Point Pleasant Beach 309 (291)
• Point Pleasant 1,614 (1,556)
• Seaside Heights 177 (174)
• Seaside Park 77 (77)
• Ship Bottom 71 (68)
• South Toms River 264 (253)
• Stafford Township 1,762 (1,714)
• Surf City 39 (38)
• Toms River 7,630 (7,356)
• Tuckerton 171 (162)

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