Morris Co.’s Weekly COVID Cases Up 7.8 Percent: See Town Updates

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — The coronavirus continues to take a grim toll on Morris County, impacting local businesses and schools in the region, according to updated state data (see town-by-town totals below).

Morris County reported 1,591 cases in the past week — a 7.8 percent increase in cases that brings the county up to 21,980 infections.

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 last Jan. 2, says Morris County and New Jersey remain in the "orange" zone representing high risk.

New Jersey rose to "high risk" in mid-November and has remained there since. With a "high" risk 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.

County officials provided the following breakdown of cases by town:

• Boonton 398
• Boonton Township 282
• Butler 376
• Chatham Borough 282
• Chatham Township 312
• Chester Borough 44
• Chester Township 231
• Denville 621
• Dover 1,873
• East Hanover 483
• Florham Park 400
• Hanover 558
• Harding 107
• Jefferson 899
• Kinnelon 486
• Lincoln Park 718
• Long Hill 208
• Madison 448
• Mendham Borough 170
• Mine Hill 256
• Montville 835
• Morris Plains 293
• Morris Township 848
• Morristown 1,372
• Mount Arlington 209
• Mount Olive 994
• Mountain Lakes 137
• Netcong 122
• Parsippany 2,326
• Pequannock 792
• Randolph 1,002
• Riverdale 214
• Rockaway Borough 320
• Rockaway Township 1,081
• Roxbury 978
• Victory Gardens 135
• Washington Township 507
• Wharton 568

Fluctuations in numbers from previous dates may be due to cases being transferred out of jurisdiction and/or further investigation revealing that the case was incorrectly reported to the NJDOH/local health department as confirmed.

The figures reflect COVID-19 positive cases as of the date and time indicated, some cases may be pending, or have yet to be entered into the system.

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