By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
New cases of COVID-19 have continued to climb in Atlantic County and there have been five deaths from the coronavirus over the past week.
There was one death on Oct. 7 in Somers Point, the first since Sept. 20, and then three more on Thursday, Oct. 8, and another on Saturday, Oct. 10.
The Somers Point woman was 89 years old and had pre-existing health conditions, according to the Atlantic County Division of Public Health.
The three who died Oct. 8 were a 91-year-old woman from Atlantic City, 89-year-old woman from Mullica Township and 66-year-old man from Pleasantville, each with pre-existing conditions, the division reported.
Statewide, there have now been 214,097 cases as of Monday, Oct. 12, and 14,387 confirmed deaths. Atlantic County now has 4,968 cases and 255 fatalities. There are an addition 1,788 suspected deaths from COVID-19 in the Garden State since the pandemic began.
On Monday, the division reported 51 new cases, including a 2-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy. There were 19 cases among males up to 81 years old and 32 cases among females up to 96 years old.
Atlantic City led with 13 new cases and Egg Harbor Township and Pleasantville had nine each. There were four new cases in Galloway Township, three each in Northfield and Hammonton, two each in Somers Point, Hamilton Township, Egg Harbor City and Ventnor; and one each in Absecon and Margate.
On Sunday, there were 55 cases, including a 1-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy.
On Saturday, there was one new death and 37 new cases, the youngest in an 8-month-old boy.
On Friday, Oct. 9, there were 38 new cases including 13 males from 13 to 88 and 25 females from 17 to 78,
In addition to the fatalities Thursday, Oct. 8, there were 52 new positive test results with 25 males, ages 8 to 84, and 27 females, from 27 to 74 years old. It was the largest number of new cases in a single day.
Egg Harbor Township led with 13 new cases, followed by seven in Atlantic City and five in Hamilton Township. There were four each in Egg Harbor City, Galloway Township and Hammonton; three each in Northfield and Pleasantville; two each in Absecon and Buena Vista Township; and one each in Buena Borough, Estell Manor, Mullica Township, Ventnor and Weymouth Township.
On Wednesday, Oct. 7, along with the first death since Sept. 20, there were 34 additional positive test results among 17 males, ages 19-76, and 17 females, ages 1-91.
Six were found in Egg Harbor Township; five in Atlantic City; four each in Absecon, Hamilton Township and Pleasantville; three each in Galloway and Ventnor; two in Mullica Township; and one each in Egg Harbor City, Hammonton and Somers Point.
Atlantic County will continue to provide COVID-19 testing by appointment at its drive-thru facility in Northfield at 617 Dolphin Ave., behind the county public works yard.
The next test date is Wednesday, Oct. 14. The remaining October test dates will occur on Tuesdays – Oct. 20 and 27. Testing is available 9 to 11:30 a.m. each week.
The test site is available by appointment for both symptomatic and asymptomatic county residents. No prescription is necessary. However, residents must provide proof of county residency and appointment confirmation.
Appointments can be made online at www.aclink.org. Those who are unable to keep their appointments are asked to cancel no less than 24 hours in advance so others may have an opportunity to fill those spots.
A list of additional testing locations in Atlantic County is available at: https://www.atlantic-county.org/covid/additional-testing-locations.asp
Health officials urge residents to continue to remain vigilant to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This includes wearing face coverings, maintaining social distancing and avoiding crowds, washing hands frequently and sanitizing common-touch areas, and answering the call if contacted by contact tracers.