Monmouth County’s COVID Cases Remain 'Very High:' Town Updates

MONMOUTH COUNTY — The coronavirus continues to take a grim toll on Monmouth 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 Monmouth County is still in the “red zone” for coronavirus cases.

Monmouth County reported 335 new cases on Friday and an increase of 2,576 cases from Dec. 12 to 18.

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.

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.

Monmouth County officials provided the following breakdown of cases by town:

Aberdeen: 755
Allenhurst: 41
Allentown: 45
Asbury Park: 716
Atlantic Highlands: 118
Avon-by-the-Sea: 75
Belmar: 193
Bradley Beach: 154
Brielle: 202
Colts Neck: 396
Deal: 156
Eatontown: 739
Englishtown: 101
Fair Haven: 168
Farmingdale: 50
Freehold Borough: 824
Freehold Township: 1541
Hazlet: 802
Highlands: 137
Holmdel: 661
Howell: 2148
Interlaken: 43
Keansburg: 466
Keyport: 276
Lake Como: 69
Little Silver: 193
Loch Arbour: 11
Long Branch:1836
Manalapan: 1507
Manasquan: 174
Marlboro: 1478
Matawan: 528
Middletown: 2439
Millstone Township: 314
Monmouth Beach: 104
Neptune City: 202
Neptune Township: 1366
Ocean: 1280
Oceanport: 236
Red Bank: 906
Roosevelt: 23
Rumson: 227
Sea Bright: 64
Sea Girt: 83
Shrewsbury Borough: 225
Shrewsbury Township: 44
Spring Lake: 89
Spring Lake Heights: 153
Tinton Falls: 689
Union Beach: 189
Upper Freehold: 251
Wall: 1060
West Long Branch: 578