Here Are Millburn's Updated Coronavirus Numbers

MILLBURN, NJ — The United States recorded its highest daily totals of new coronavirus deaths this week, and the death rate has been rising in New Jersey as well.

As of Thursday, 291,000 Americans had passed away from the virus. On Wednesday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said that the state of New Jersey had seen 91 new deaths from the virus since the day before. More than 15,000 residents of the state have passed away from the virus.

Back on Sept. 8, three months ago, the state announced only two new deaths confirmed in 24 hours.

Essex County has had more than 10 percent of the state's coronavirus deaths, although Millburn has not seen a high contagion rate. Still, cases are ramping up here like elsewhere.

Millburn's numbers

Last Friday, Mayor Jackie Lieberberg said a total of 344 Millburn residents had tested positive for the virus since the beginning of the pandemic. This was an increase of 35 since the week before.

Breaking them down by age, the biggest increase was on the 10-19 age group. See more of the mayor's message from Dec. 4 here.

On Thursday, Dec. 10, the county of Essex said the number of cases in Millburn had grown to 362 cases since the start of the pandemic, with two new confirmed cases since the day before.

The county said six residents of the town have died of the virus, a number that has not changed since summer.

In Essex County, 2,055 deaths were confirmed by Thursday, up from 2,046 the day before. Three of the nine new deaths in the last day were Newark residents, along with two from Nutley, and one from each of Cedar Grove, East Orange, Irvington, and Monclair.

The White House Coronavirus Task Force said two weeks ago that Essex County was among nine New Jersey counties in the “red zone” when it came to the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak in November. Red zones have more than 100 new cases per 100,000 residents and a diagnostic test positivity result of above 10 percent.

At the height of the crisis in New Jersey, when testing and PPE were scarce, 460 people died from the virus in 24 hours on April 30. (READ MORE: 'I Cannot Get Air': When Local Woman Begged For Coronavirus Test.)

Here are details on how to get tested and other recent coronavirus updates in Millburn/Short Hills.

SCHOOLS

• The Millburn schools will be remote for two weeks in Jaunary after winter break ends.

WHERE TO GET TESTED IN ESSEX COUNTY

To get a test:

• Click on www.essexcovid.org to register for a test
• Here is a list of the various types of tests (saliva, swab, and more) and where to get them in Essex County.
• You can also speak with your doctor.

LOCAL BUSINESS

• Restaurants reopened the week of June 15 for outdoor dining.
• Restaurants are allowed to serve indoors at 25 percent capacity.
• Starting last month, indoor dining must end at 10 p.m. at all bars and restaurants, tables can be placed closer than 6 feet only if there are plexiglass barriers separating tables, and only take-out and delivery services are permitted after 10 p.m.

NATIONAL AND STATEWIDE TRENDS

• Use this link to see the updated fatality count in the United States.
• More than 900 health care workers have died of the virus nationally.
• Others are simultaneously fighting misinformation and hoaxes as they try to fight the virus.

HOW TO GET HELP WITH HEAT, RENT, AND MORE

• During the State of Emergency in New Jersey, no tenant is permitted to be evicted from their home or apartment for the inability to pay rent. Talk to your local mayor's office if you are experiencing difficulties.
• The CARES act has made money available to help with rent in each city. More information is here.
• New Jersey residents can get help with heating and energy bills. Information is here.
• Various other avenues of relief and benefits have also been made available, including family leave for 12 weeks if you can't work due to your child's school or camp being closed, and changes to unemployment rules to help those who were at a job for a short time, or freelancing.
• Programs are being added constantly, so don't think you can't get help. Reach out to your local mayor's office to find out what kind of funds may be available to help you get through this time.

LONG-TERM CARE

• Recently, there were 159 long term care facilities with active outbreaks, the state Department of Health said this month. The state also announced that deaths at the facilities had more than doubled since May 1. The state has stopped updating the numbers at facilities without current outbreaks.
• New Jersey residents were already alarmed at the high number of residents who have passed away in nursing homes, rehabs, and similar facilities. The state announced plans in May to increase testing at some long term care facilities and to bring in the National Guard temporarily to help make changes.
• The state released death toll statistics late in spring for long-term care facilities like rehabs and nursing homes. See the list here.
• You can report problems with long term care facilities here, or if you suspect coronavirus related misconduct, here.
• Some New Jersey long-term care facilities reopened for limited visits, with precautions, in July.

Here are more statewide coronavirus resources:

• NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/
• General COVID-19 questions: 2-1-1
• NJ COVID-19 hotline: (800) 222-1222

Got Millburn news? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. To be the first to get news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.