By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
COVID-19 cases in Cape May County continue to be reported in substantial numbers, keeping active cases around or above 500 in the communities, not including those among visitors and in long-term care facilities.
“Our Department of Health and Office of Emergency Management have been working closely with state officials and Cape May County is ready to begin the vaccination program,” Cape May County Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton said last week. “There will be a great deal of public information in the coming days and weeks from the county and the state so that our residents will be fully informed about when and how they can obtain the vaccine.”
The priority for those getting vaccinated will be health care workers at hospitals and both residents and workers at long-term care facilities, according to the county.
As of Sunday, there were 509 active cases in the communities, with the largest numbers in Lower Township (123) and Middle Township (108). Upper Township and Ocean City had 59 and 55, respectively, and Cape May was close behind with a total of 45. Of the 45, 30 were among non-residents and 15 were residents.
Altogether, the Wildwoods had 94, including 39 in Wildwood, 33 in North Wildwood, 18 in Wildwood Crest and four in West Wildwood.
Dennis Township had 18, there were nine each in Avalon and Woodbine, six in West Cape May and two in Cape May Point, six in Stone Harbor and five in Sea Isle City.
Of the 25 cases in long-term care, eight were in Ocean City, nine in Dennis Township, six in Woodbine and one each in Lower and Middle townships.
There were 40 new cases in the communities reported Sunday, but none in long-term care or among non-residents.
On Saturday, there were 54 new cases among residents, including 13 and 14, respectively, in Lower and Middle Townships, and seven new non-resident cases in Cape May. Two were reported in long-term care.
On Friday, there were 39 new cases among residents and another five in long-term care, and on Thursday, Dec. 10, there were 43 new cases among residents and the death of a 95-year-old woman from Ocean City in long-term care.
On Wednesday, Dec. 9, there were 52 new cases among residents and two in long-term care and on Tuesday, Dec. 8, there were 49 new cases among residents and four in long-term care.
The Department of Health continues to provide expanded COVID-19 testing in partnership with Cape Regional Medical Center and the Office of Emergency Management. Testing by appointment is available by calling (609) 463-6581.