By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
Atlantic: Long-term care, farm workers
NORTHFIELD – COVID-19 has spread throughout Atlantic County during the pandemic, but it hit hardest in Hammonton with 573 cases and 48 deaths through last week. According to county officials, the greater number of positive cases can be traced to vulnerable populations – patients and staff in long-term care facilities and to migrant laborers working on farms.
As of Monday, July 6, there were 3,035 county residents who have tested positive and there have been 210 deaths, according to the Atlantic County Division of Public Health.
According to the state Department of Health’s COVID-19 dashboard, 17 long-term care facilities in Atlantic County have been affected by the novel coronavirus. At those facilities, 689 resident cases have been reported and 316 cases among staff members.
That shows a third of all coronavirus cases in Atlantic County have been at long-term care facilities and that 153 of the 210 Atlantic County residents who have died through July 6 from the coronavirus have been patients at those facilities. One staff member also has died.
Asked about the higher numbers, Atlantic County Public Health Officer Patricia Diamond said that “spikes are likely due to an increase in mass testing with an emphasis on vulnerable populations including long-term care facilities and seasonal migrant workers. There has also been some backlog of cases being inputted into the state data system.”
Diamond said to get downward trends in long-term care, “We work closely with the facility and the state Department of Health to ensure the facility is implementing state guidelines regarding infection control, testing residents and staff, cohorting appropriately. The state also conducts unannounced infection control and containment surveys to ensure facilities are in compliance.”
State officials have said they are working to increase testing on the migrant labor population, which is prevalent in parts of Atlantic County, in particular on the blueberry farms, to assess the impact the virus has on that vulnerable population.
Diamond said the state notifies the county when it sees spikes in cases and asks if the county knows the reason. “We had one call and explained that it appeared to be from the testing going on in the migrant farms,” she added.
During Gov. Phil Murphy’s COVID-19 press conference Monday, state Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said there is a task force to test migrant workers in New Jersey. About 3,900 workers have been tested, she said, “and we are working with the farmers to encourage testing in all the sites. What we don’t have is the exact number of migrant workers in New Jersey because it ramps up. We have the blueberry (farm) migrant workers right now, but it will ramp up as the season goes on.”
She said the workers have been “very cooperative.” It has been reported that some farmers are not allowing testing on their farms.
Cases by community as of early July
The Atlantic County Division of Public Health provided updated statistics through early July on the breakdown, by community, of COVID-19 cases and fatalities:
- Hammonton – 573 and 48 deaths;
- Atlantic City – 372 and 13 deaths;
- Pleasantville – 346 and 17 deaths;
- Galloway – 326 and 30 deaths;
- Egg Harbor Township – 315 and 22 deaths;
- Hamilton Township – 205 and 4 deaths;
- Absecon – 189 and 21 deaths;
- Northfield – 138 and 26 deaths;
- Linwood – 74 and 11 deaths;
- Buena Borough – 49 and 3 deaths;
- Buena Vista Township – 41 and 1 death;
- Egg Harbor City – 42 and 2 deaths;
- Somers Point – 64;
- Ventnor – 55 and 3 deaths;
- Mullica Twp. – 39 and 1 death;
- Brigantine – 31 and 1 death;
- Margate – 27 and 1 death;
- Weymouth Township – 16 and 1 death;
- Folsom – 18;
- Estell Manor – 8;
- Port Republic – 4;
- Longport – 3;
- Corbin City – 1;
There also are two positive cases with undetermined locations.
Daily results on new Atlantic County cases
Over the past week, there have been a number of days with small numbers of new cases reported.
On Monday, July 6, there were 22 positive cases among residents from 18 to 84, but no new fatalities.
On Sunday, an 84-year-old Northfield man died from complications of COVID-19 and there were 14 positive tests among residents from 6 years old to 82.
There were no new deaths on Saturday, the Fourth of July, and only five new cases, and on Friday, July 3, a 75-year-old Absecon man with underlying health conditions died and there were 24 new cases among 14 males from age 5 to 56 and 10 females ages 12 to 90.
On July 2, three elderly residents died – a 98-year-old Hammonton woman, a 93-year-old Pleasantville woman and an 82-year-old Linwood man. Seventeen residents, ages 21 to 80, tested positive.
Trying to prevent new cases
The Atlantic County Division of Public Health has been vigilant as restrictions have been eased on casinos and other large gatherings and that vigilance has helped.
“There is always a concern when dealing with communicable disease prevention and containment,” Diamond said. “We have worked closely with the retail food facility industry since the beginning of the pandemic. As you know the take-out portion of the business continued. We constantly educated and directed them to the CDC’s website for updates as to how COVID-19 prevention strategies applied to their business.”
The public health officer said the strategy appears to be working so far “as we have not seen an uptick in cases as it would relate to visiting retail take-out establishments. As such, we advise all other industries that are opening or expanding their operation to do the same. They know their business, the type of service they provide, and their customers and clients. CDC has prepared documents as to how to relate these COVID-19 prevention measures to their business. If they have question they are encouraged to contact the Division of Public Health.”
Diamond, echoing state public health officials and the governor, said there are specific precautions that should be followed at this point in the pandemic.
“Everyone must do their part, not only businesses,” she said. “We advise to be aware that cases continue in the community. Although we know more about the virus than we did four months ago, there is still a lot to learn. People should check CDC website periodically for updates.”
Guidelines include:
– Practice social distancing of 6 feet;
– Wear face masks in public and other places where required;
– Wash your hands frequently preferably with soap and water, if not available hand sanitizer with 60 percent alcohol;
– Avoid touching your mouth nose and face;
– Wash and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
– Monitor your health and stay home if you are sick.
Cape May: Visitors, younger people
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – There is nearly triple the number of COVID-19 cases among people visiting Cape May County than among county residents and health officials are warning that younger people are making up the majority of new cases.
From July 1 to Monday, July 6, there were 32 new cases of COVID-19 among county residents, but 89 cases of out-of-county residents testing positive for the novel coronavirus.
There was only one new case of COVID-19 in long-term care over that period, which was reported in Ocean City on July 5.
According to the Cape May County Department of Health on July 2, Cape Regional Medical Center reported that most of the recent out-of-county positive COVID-19 cases have involved young people between the ages of 16 and 22. “Over the past two days the Health Department has confirmed eight positive cases yesterday and another 23 today within this same age group. Not one of these cases was in need of hospitalization.”
On Monday, the county department added, “Visitors and residents in the areas of Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Avalon and Wildwood should be aware that an increase in numbers of mostly out-of-state positive cases of COVID-19 have been detected over the past week. The age group is mainly between 15 and 25. Therefore, safety measures should be taken including adherence to social distancing and wearing a mask.”
“Although widespread testing is being done throughout New Jersey, these new cases are coming from people failing to social distance. The majority of new cases testing positive in Cape May County within the last few days were young adults who were socializing without regard to the threats of spreading coronavirus,” county health officials said July 2. “Most of these people are short-term visitors with permanent residence from another county or state.”
“Although Cape May County’s year-round population COVID-19 cases are the lowest in the state, it is important to remember that while you may be on vacation, this disease is not,” Kevin Thomas, Cape May County health officer, said. “Without protection, crowded settings and social gatherings such as large house parties are prime conditions for contracting the disease.”
The Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the mayors of Cape May County, and the Board of Directors from the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce are urging everyone to wear a mask in public spaces to both keep people safe and the economy open.
“As the governor has said, there will be peaks and valleys as we move through this, but this demonstrates that our bar owners and younger people need to immediately take this situation much more seriously or risk new restrictions and shutdowns,” Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton said.
Daily numbers tell the tale
The daily numbers of reported COVID-19 cases among residents have been in the single digits from July 1 through July 6, but non-residents have been testing at much higher numbers.
On July 1, there were six cases among residents, one each in Lower, Middle and Upper townships, and West Cape May, Wildwood and North Wildwood. That day, eight cases were reported among non-residents.
There were only two new cases on July 2, one each in Ocean City and Dennis Township, but 23 among non-residents.
On July 3, three cases were reported in Lower Township, but 21 among non-residents.
On July 4, there was one new case in Ocean City, Sea Isle, Wildwood Crest and Woodbine, and eight among non-residents.
On Sunday, July 5, there were 20 cases among non-residents and eight among residents, including two each in Cape May and North Wildwood and one each in Avalon, Wildwood and Lower and Middle Townships.
And on Monday, July 6, there were nine out-of-county cases and nine county residents tested positive, including three in Middle Township, two each in Avalon and Lower Township, and one each in North Wildwood and Dennis Township.
As of reporting on Monday, July 6, active cases included 18 in Middle, 15 in Lower, 12 in Wildwood and 13 in North Wildwood. Avalon reported seven cases, Ocean City and Woodbine six each, Dennis Township and Cape May had five each, Upper had three, Wildwood Crest had two and Sea Isle and West Cape May one each. There was a total of 94 active cases in the communities and another 31 in long-term care as of Monday.
Cape May Point, Stone Harbor and West Wildwood had no active cases.
The total number of cases in the county climbed to 788 with 69 deaths, 48 of them in long-term care, according to Cape May County. (The New Jersey Department of Health reports 51 deaths in long-term care.)
Long-term care affected most
The state Health Department reports 232 residents and 175 staff members at long-term care facilities in Cape May County have contracted COVID-19 showing more than half of all cases in the county were in those 11 facilities affected.
Within the communities, Lower Township has recorded seven deaths with three fatalities in each of Upper, Middle and Dennis townships. There have been two fatalities in Cape May and Woodbine and one in Ocean City.
In long-term care, there have been 27 deaths in Lower Township, seven in Woodbine, six in Dennis Township, five in Middle Township and one in Ocean City since the pandemic began.
Cape May County still lowest in state
According to the state, Cape May County has had the fewest deaths and fewest cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey.
Salem County is the second lowest followed by Hunterdon County.
The counties close to New York City, some of the most densely populated in New Jersey, have been the most affected.
Bergen County has reported 19,655 cases and 1,745 deaths (and another 261 probable deaths); Hudson County has 18,990 cases and 1,289 deaths (plus 167 probable) and Essex County has 18,895 cases and 1,800 deaths (along with 241 probable.)
In all New Jersey has 13,373 deaths through July 6 plus another 1,856 probable deaths from COVID-19.
