CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — Cape May County recorded nine more deaths attributed to the surge of COVID-19, county commissioners announced Friday.
The deaths include two men, a 94-year-old and 81-year-old, from Upper Township; an 89-year-old man from Ocean City, an 86-year-old man and a 78-year-old woman from West Cape May, an 87-year-old man and a 64-year-old man from Middle Township, an 86-year-old man from Wildwood Crest and a 75-year-old woman from Dennis Township, according to Cape May County Commission Director Gerald F. Thornton and Commissioner Jeff Pierson, liaison to the Health Department.
They said although the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is less severe than the Delta strain, the record numbers of new COVID cases in New Jersey and the Northeast have led to a rise in deaths.
Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, there have been 262 fatalities attributed to COVID-19 in the county, including 157 among residents and 105 in long-term care.
“It is incredibly difficult any time we lose any member of our county,” Pierson said. “Our prayers are with the surviving members of their families. We encourage people to take the steps to protect those who we love the most in our lives. The Department of Health will continue to provide additional access to vaccines and booster shots to ensure any member of our county who wants a vaccine dose can receive it.”
They urged residents to take steps to protect those who are most vulnerable.
“Getting vaccinated and boosted helps to protect you and the people around you. It is also important to mask around those who are elderly and individuals who are in high-risk categories,” they said in the weekly report issued Friday by the county Department of Health.
The number of active cases in the county surpassed 2,000 Friday. In the four to five weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, cases jumped from around 250 to over 1,000 and then in the 10-day span ending Jan. 3, had increased to more than 1,800.
On Friday, the county announced there were 2,282 active cases among residents countywide, including 622 in Middle Township, 530 in Lower Township, 301 in Upper Township and 233 in Ocean City. Cape May reported 47 active cases among residents and another 52 among nonresidents.
Other active cases in the county were in Dennis Township (152), Wildwood (126), Wildwood Crest (75), North Wildwood (69), Woodbine (45), Sea Isle City (37), Avalon (17), West Cape May (15); Stone Harbor (10), West Wildwood (2), and Cape May Point (1).
So far during the pandemic, Cape May County has recorded a total of 17,179 cases of COVID-19.
County officials said there “is some positive news” about the spread of the Omicron variant locally in that covidactnow.org, which monitors the Rate of Transmission (RT), shows Cape May County RT beginning to decline. They said when the rate is over 1.0, the spread is considered increasing. The rate as of Friday was 1.23, but it was down from its most recent high of 1.31.
“If the RT continues to trend downward and get below 1.0, it will mean the spread of the virus will be in decline,” officials said.
They added the county is continuing to promote vaccines, boosters and masking when indoors and social distancing is difficult.
The Cape May County Department of Health is offering multiple COVID vaccine clinics every week to provide options for county residents. These clinics will provide initial doses and booster shots of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Individuals who have received the Moderna vaccine must wait six months before receiving the booster shot. People who have taken the Johnson & Johnson vaccine need to wait two months before getting the booster. Anyone who is 18 years of age or older is now eligible for the COVID-19 booster shot throughout New Jersey.
These are walk-in clinics. Masks, identification and COVID-19 Vaccine Cards (if applicable) are required for all clinic locations. This upcoming week, vaccines will be available from 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, at the Avalon Community Center, 3001 Avalon Ave. in Avalon.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
