By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
More than a third of Cape May County residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of the start of this week, but active cases of the virus have increased over the past few weeks.
Active cases had dropped below 300 in recent weeks, but climbed over 400 as recently as Easter weekend, before falling below 400 by Sunday, April 4.
The New Jersey Department of Health reported that 38,751 county residents had been vaccinated as of Easter Sunday and that 26,799 have been fully vaccinated, according to the county’s Department of Health. The local department noted the county continues to lead the state in per-capita vaccination.
An expansion took place beginning last week on those who can receive the COVID vaccine. New groups of workers eligible include food production, agriculture, and food distribution, eldercare and support staff, warehousing and logistics, social services support staff, elections personnel, hospitality, medical supply chain, postal and shipping services, clergy, and judicial system. For a link on the county website to find the full details of all people who are eligible for the vaccine go to https://www.capemaycountynj.gov/.
On Friday, the county reported the highest number of active COVID-19 cases with 414, but by Sunday that declined to 384 in the communities. There also were six active cases among non-residents, all in Cape May, and only one in long-term care, in Woodbine.
Middle Township, with 85, and Lower Township, with 80, had the most active cases as of Sunday, followed by Upper Township with 42 and Ocean City with 37. Wildwood had 35 active cases, there were 23 in North Wildwood, 20 in Wildwood Crest and three in West Wildwood.
Other active cases included Dennis Township (22), Cape May (12), Woodbine (8), West Cape May (6), Stone Harbor (5), Avalon (3), Sea Isle City (2) and Cape May Point (1).
There were 14 new cases reported Sunday, 24 on Saturday, 31 on Friday, 43 on Thursday, 45 on Wednesday and 40 on Tuesday. Many of the new reports have been in Lower and Middle townships.
Deaths
The department announced three deaths over the past week, an 89-year-old woman from Lower Township April 1, a 73-year-old man on April 3 and a 78-year-old man from Wildwood on April 4.
New gathering limits
Gov. Phil Murphy announced effective April 2, outdoor gathering limits have increased from 25 to 200 people. Large venues will also have a crowd increase. The threshold for venues to be considered a “large venue” has dropped from 5,000 to 2,500. The capacity for indoor seating at large venues increased to 20 percent and capacity for outdoor seating at large venues increases to 30 percent. Outdoor capacity limits remain uncapped for religious services, political activities, weddings, funerals and memorial services.
