By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
Although the number of positive tests for COVID-19 has increased only slightly in Cape May and Atlantic counties, statewide the cases are growing substantially.
At 2 p.m. Friday, March 27, the New Jersey Department of Health announced there are now 8,825 confirmed cases of this coronavirus statewide and a reported 108 deaths. On Tuesday, there were 3,675 cases and 44 deaths.
There also are 16,547 negative tests so far, according to the state Department of Health.
As of Friday morning, the Atlantic County Department of Health reported 14 cases in Atlantic County. The Cape May County Department of Health was reporting nine midweek and has not updated its figures.
The three most recent cases in Atlantic County involved two men in their 20s who were recuperating at home and a man in his late 50s who is hospitalized.
In Cape May County, the cases were “a 60-year-old female, a 54-year-old female and a 19-year-old female.
Cape May City, Ocean City, Lower Township, Sea Isle City, Avalon, Upper Township each are reporting a case. Middle Township is reporting three cases.
There were no confirmed cases in Cape May Point, Dennis Township, North Wildwood, Stone Harbor, West Cape May, West Wildwood, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and Woodbine.
In New Jersey, the highest prevalence remains in north Jersey closest to the New York City area. New York City has the highest number of cases in the country.
In New Jersey, as of March 27, Bergen County led with 1,505 positive tests, Essex County was next with 826, Middlesex had 640 and Monmouth had 634 and Hudson had 594.
Closest to the area, Ocean County had 484 positive tests and Camden County had 95.
Cumberland County had nine positive tests and Salem County had three.
