Summit Releases Weekly Coronavirus Numbers, Updates

SUMMIT, NJ — The city of Summit said in its most recent weekly update that there have been 70 new coronavirus cases reported from April 1 to April 8 (last Thursday).

There was also a new fatality reported, a 73-year-old man. However, the man passed away in February and the Westfield Regional Health Department only received confirmation in April.

That brings the total death toll in Summit from the virus to 24.

The city has now had 1,681 total cases since March 2020. Total case numbers are updated and adjusted weekly following contact tracing interviews.

Of the 70 newest cases, the Westfield Regional Health Department reported:

Age breakdowns:

• 14 cases ages 18 and younger;
• 16 cases ages 19 to 29;
• 6 cases ages 30 to 39;
• 12 cases ages 40 to 49;
• 9 cases ages 50 to 59;
• 5 cases ages 60 to 64;
• 3 cases ages 70 to 74;
• 4 cases ages 80 to 89; and
• One case age 90 to 94.

Contract tracing results:

• 18 cases no known exposure;
• 16 cases with positive household contact;
• 15 cases unable to contact;
• Five cases remain under investigation;
• Three cases with known exposure;
• Three cases associated with a location of employment;
• Two cases refused interview;
• Two cases associated with travel;
• Two cases associated with care at a medical facility;
• Two cases associated with social gatherings;
• One case associated with team sports; and
• One case associated with homelessness.

State hospitalization and variant numbers

As the vaccination rollout continues in New Jersey, coronavirus cases are not expected to decline just yet.

In New Jersey, on Monday, there were 27 new deaths reported since the day before. The state has seen a total of 22,323 deaths total.

As of the most recent hospitalization count on Monday, 2,261 people are hospitalized with the virus, 448 of those in critical care. There are 958 reports of CDC variants of concern.

The state's daily death toll has never declined to the level of Sept. 8, when only 2 deaths were reported in one day. New Jersey's peak daily death toll on April 30, 2020 was 460 fatalities reported in one day. The numbers then steadily dropped during the shutdowns in the summer, until September, when they began rising again.

Summit and Union County

The city said, regarding state and local numbers, "According to health officials, infection activity remains at a high level in Summit, while cities and counties throughout the state of New Jersey are experiencing a higher-level rate of infection and transmission. Statewide and locally, there has been an increase in reported cases with a decrease in hospitalizations. Further 20 percent of cases this week are among individuals ages 18 and younger."

"As of April 8 in New Jersey, more than 3.2 million residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine (36 percent of total population), and 1.9 million residents have been fully vaccinated (18 percent of total population). We are ranked seventh in the nation for the most vaccinations given per capita."

For Union County, 175,786 residents (31.5 percent of total population) have received one dose of the vaccine, and 102,180 (18 percent of total population) are fully vaccinated, the city said.

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