Ocean County's COVID Cases: See Town-By-Town Updates

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — Ocean County's coronavirus case rate has increased over the last week, reflecting an increase in the infection rate statewide, as it has for the last few weeks (see town-by-town totals below).

Ocean County recorded 60,217 cases of the coronavirus through Friday, according to the Ocean County Health Department. That is an increase of 2,313 cases, or 3.99 percent, from March 26, when 57,904 cases were reported.

Variants of the virus that spread more quickly have played some part in the increase in cases; Gov. Phil Murphy has said they could contribute to delays in further reopenings.

The New Jersey Department of Health's most recent COVID-19 Activity Level Report, issued Thursday for the week ending March 27, shows the entire state has moved back into the orange "high risk" zone, with cases rate of 10 to 25 cases per 100,000 people.

Ocean County is in New Jersey's Central East region, which has the highest case rate in the state at 42.01. That is a 47 percent increase since the low of 28.54 reported five weeks ago, for the week ending Feb. 20.

The other metrics reported in the COVID-19 Activity Level Index also have risen sharply. The percentage of COVID-like illnesses is at 6.80, up from a low of 5.20 for the week ending Feb. 20, and the percent positivity is back over 10, at 10.55, up from 8.23 for Feb. 20.

The state CALI report classifies the state as orange. The federal report had Ocean County (and all of New Jersey) in the red, which signifies substantial community transmission. The transmission rate was above 1.0, meaning anyone with the coronavirus is likely spreading it to more than one person. The transmission rate was 1.08 as of Saturday, according to the state health department.

The cumulative town-by-town totals as of April 3 are below. The number in parentheses shows the number of cases from the week before.

Ocean County has had 1,847 residents who have died of complications from the coronavirus. There have been no deaths in those 18 and under; there were 33 people age 19 to 44; 238 age 45 to 64; 336 age 65 to 74; 572 age 75 to 84, and 668 people who were 85 or older have died, according to the county health department. The youngest person from Ocean County who died was 20 years old, and the oldest was 103.

The health department's data does not include a breakdown of how many people who died had underlying conditions other than to say that heart disease was a significant contributing factor.

Here are the town-by-town numbers. If the town shows a decrease this week, it reflects a correction based on the person's actual address as opposed to the mailing address.

• Barnegat Light 33 (32)
• Barnegat Township 1,838 (1,770)
• Bay Head 74 (69)
• Beach Haven 62 (55)
• Beachwood 1,019 (955)
• Berkeley Township 3,869 (3,724)
• Brick Township 8,148 (7,688)
• Eagleswood Township 141 (135)
• Harvey Cedars 17 (15)
• Island Heights 123 (117)
• Jackson Township 5,525 (5,260)
• Lacey Township 2,468 (2,363)
• Lakehurst 286 (269)
• Lakewood Township 13,371 (13,236)
• Lavallette 162 (148)
• Little Egg Harbor Township 1,521 (1,461)
• Long Beach Township 176 (172)
• Manchester Township 3,885 (3,726)
• Mantoloking 18 (16)
• Ocean Gate 158 (148)
• Ocean Township (Waretown) 578 (544)
• Pine Beach 164 (154)
• Plumsted Township 575 (533)
• Point Pleasant Beach 423 (392)
• Point Pleasant 2,179 (2,054)
• Seaside Heights 240 (229)
• Seaside Park 102 (97)
• Ship Bottom 95 (91)
• South Toms River 341 (323)
• Stafford Township 2,255 (2,178)
• Surf City 61 (58)
• Toms River 9,898 (9,512)
• Tuckerton 230 (216)

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