Hudson County's Weekly COVID Cases Up 5 Percent: See Updates

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — The coronavirus continues to take a grim toll on Hudson County, impacting local businesses and schools in the region, according to updated state data.

Hudson County reported a total of 51,121 cases on Friday, an increase of 3,795, or 5 percent, over the previous week's 47,326 cases.

There were also a total of 1,614 deaths, up from 1,576 the previous week.

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 Hudson County is in the “red zone” for coronavirus cases.

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 exceeded 25 cases per 1,000 people over a seven-day average.

The latest report 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.

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.

"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.

Hudson County opened a vaccination center last month and created a new vaccination website this month. Read more here.