Ocean County's COVID Cases Remain 'Very High:' See Town 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).

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

Ocean County reported 27,577 cases on Friday, an increase of 2,233 over the 25,344 cases reported Dec. 11.

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 over a seven-day average.

The latest reports say the overall coronavirus activity level also rose from "moderate," or "yellow," to "high," or "orange," in recent weeks in all 21 New Jersey counties. Ocean County is in the Central East group.

While the case rate is in the red zone, all of the numbers for the Central East region decreased from Dec. 11. The percentage of those with COVID-like illness (the CLI number) and the positivity rate both fell. The case rate was 46.02 as of Dec. 11, while the CLI percentage was 7.00 and the positivity rate had been 11.48.

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 student or staff member 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.

Indeed, a number of school districts have shifted to remote instruction as the numbers have risen.

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.

Ocean County officials provided the following breakdown of cases by town as of Friday. The previous week's case count is in parentheses:

• Barnegat Light, 19 (19)
• Barnegat, 717 (637)
• Bay Head, 34 (26)
• Beach Haven, 26 (25)
• Beachwood, 403 (358)
• Berkeley Township, 1,726 (1,557)
• Brick Township, 3,372 (3,019)
• Eagleswood Township, 55 (47)
• Harvey Cedars, 4 (3)
• Island Heights, 39 (38)
• Jackson Township, 2,594 (2,358)
• Lacey Township, 930 (818)
• Lakehurst, 126 (99)
• Lakewood, 7,507 (7,255)
• Lavallette, 77 (70)
• Little Egg Harbor, 554 (486)
• Long Beach Township, 82 (76)
• Manchester Township, 1,824 (1,681)
• Mantoloking, 8 (8)
• Ocean Gate, 67 (59)
• Ocean Township, 202 (182)
• Pine Beach, 63 (55)
• Plumsted Township, 220 (196)
• Point Pleasant Beach, 154 (144)
• Point Pleasant, 855 (772)
• Seaside Heights, 104 (97)
• Seaside Park, 41 (36)
• Ship Bottom, 31 (32)
• South Toms River, 148 (140)
• Stafford Township, 928 (832)
• Surf City, 22 (19)
• Toms River, 4,539 (4,110)
• Tuckerton, 60 (51)

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