On Friday, May 8, Atlantic County was closing in on 1,500 COVID-19 cases as 17 more deaths and 249 cases were reported just over the past three days. Many of the deaths were at long-term care facilities.
Also on Friday, the New Jersey Department of Health announced the first death of a person under 18 – a 4-year-old with an underlying health condition. The state did not release additional information. The state death toll as of Friday was 8,952 with 135,454 positive cases of COVID-19.
On Friday, there were 118 new cases and six deaths in Atlantic County. The fatalities include five residents of a long-term care facility – an 83-year-old woman and an 89-year old man from Absecon; a 58-year-old man from Galloway; a 53-year-old man and an 87-year-old woman from Hammonton. The sixth victim was a 24-year old man from Atlantic City.
All of the individuals had underlying conditions that put them at greater risk for complications, the Atlantic County Division of Public Health reported.
The cases Friday included 73 women from 22 to 97 years old and 45 men from 20 to 88.
The countywide total is now 1,433 cases and 68 deaths; 318 residents have been cleared as recovered.
On Thursday, four residents of long-term care facilities with pre-existing conditions died – an 84-year-old woman and a 93-year-old man from Galloway, a 93-year-old man from Northfield, and a 66-year-old man from Pleasantville.
Also Thursday, there were 26 females testing positive from 6 to 90 years old and 13 men from 21 to 93.
On Wednesday, Atlantic County health officials confirmed the deaths of seven residents of long-term care facilities due to complications from COVID-19. All had underlying health conditions. They included five Hammonton residents, two men, ages 67 and 79, and three women, ages 78, 90 and 99; in addition to a 71-year-old Galloway man and a 91-year-old Northfield woman.
According to the state Department of Health, more than 50% of COVID-19 deaths and 17 percent of cases throughout the state have occurred in long-term care facilities.
Ninety-two new cases of COVID-19 were reported Wednesday among 31 men, ages 23 to 85 and 61 women, ages 13 to 94.
Atlantic County will continue drive-thru testing, by appointment, from 10 a.m. to 1p.m. Tuesday, May 12, and Thursday, May 14, for symptomatic county residents with a doctor’s prescription, proof of residency and appointment confirmation. Appointments can be made online at www.aclink.org. All testing is conducted behind the Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing.