Middlesex Co.’s COVID Cases Remain 'Very High:' See Town Updates

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

As of Friday, Middlesex County reported 344 new cases, taking the cumulative total to 39,220. The previous week, the number of positive cases were 36,787, so there were 2,433 new positives in one week.

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.

As of Dec. 18, here is the Middlesex County coronavirus breakdown by towns:

Carteret

12 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
1,491 Reported Total Cases
1 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
34 Reported Total Deaths

East Brunswick

21 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
1,501 Reported Total Cases
0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
66 Reported Total Deaths

Edison

63 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
4,191 Reported Total Cases
0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
255 Reported Total Deaths

Highland Park

8 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
452 Reported Total Cases
0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
10 Reported Total Deaths

Metuchen

3 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
384 Reported Total Cases
0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
5 Reported Total Deaths

Middlesex

6 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
756 Reported Total Cases
0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
23 Reported Total Deaths

New Brunswick

30 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
3,333 Reported Total Cases
0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
85 Reported Total Deaths

North Brunswick

45 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
2,191 Reported Total Cases
0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
63 Reported Total Deaths

Old Bridge

25 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
3,017 Reported Total Cases
2 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
93 Reported Total Deaths

South Brunswick

19 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
1,208 Reported Total Cases
0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
37 Reported Total Deaths

South River

8 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
799 Reported Total Cases
0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
11 Reported Total Deaths

Spotswood

2 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
310 Reported Total Cases
0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
9 Reported Total Deaths

Woodbridge

52 Reported Cases in the last 24 Hours
5,845 Reported Total Cases
0 Reported Deaths in the last 24 Hours
160 Reported Total Deaths

See all the Middlesex County towns here: https://discovermiddlesex.com/...