Infection Rate Down, Sussex Co. Remains At Medium Risk: Report

SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ - COVID-19 in Sussex County is continuing to spread in a slow and controlled fashion, despite an uptick in infection rate according to the Covid ActNow group. Sussex was listed in the medium level of COVID risk as of Thursday.

"Sussex County's COVID preparedness meets international standards. If this trend continues, Sussex County may eventually achieve herd immunity, though this may take years," the report said.

The latest update comes with a new metric of daily cases per 100,000. Sussex County has 2.5, while the entire Garden State has a 2.6 rating.

The update comes as New Jersey, and all states, have been dropped from the list on track to contain the coronavirus.

In Sussex County, the infection rate dropped to .81, noting that the disease is spreading slowly. On average, each person in Sussex County, New Jersey with COVID is infecting 0.81 other people. Because each person is infecting less than one other person, the total number of current cases in Sussex County is shrinking. In terms of ICU headroom used, the study that there are 10 ICU beds that 50 percent are currently occupied by non-COVID patients. Of the five ICU beds remaining, two are estimated to be needed by COVID cases, or 40 percent of available beds. This suggests there is likely enough capacity to absorb a wave of new COVID infections.

The new metric is daily cases per 100,000 in population. Over the last week, Sussex County, New Jersey has averaged 2.5 new confirmed cases per day for every 100,000 residents. As context, if these rates were to continue, 2-20 percent of Sussex County’s population would be infected in the next year.

You can read the full report here.

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