More than double this time in 2020, but local hospitalizations are down
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – Lower, Middle and Upper townships have recorded the highest number of new cases during the latest COVID-19 surge, with two deaths reported last week, but county officials say hospitalizations this December are well below those of the peak a year ago.
Still, cases in Cape May County have quadruped from the Nov. 26 report.
The Cape May County Department of Health reported Friday the number of active COVID-19 cases surpassed 1,000 last week with total cases at 1,071, yet another jump over the previous week. On Nov. 26, there were 267 active cases.
At this point a year ago in December 2020, the county was reporting 431 active cases so active cases are more than double that earlier peak.
“The spread of the Omicron variant is something we continue to monitor, and we want our residents to stay safe this holiday season,” said Cape May County Commissioner Jeff Pierson, liaison to the Cape May County Department of Health. “If you feel sick, get tested and avoid spreading the virus to others. Vaccines and boosters are the best protection we have currently to mitigate the spread and to also lessen potential symptoms you might feel if a breakthrough infection takes place.”
County health officials said Cape May County is one of only six New Jersey counties that have hit the 70 percent fully vaccinated mark, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Thus far, the numbers of COVID-positive patients admitted to Cape Regional Medical Center are well below the peak seen in December 2020,” the department reported. “The recent highs in new cases reported in New Jersey are a reminder for residents to get vaccinated or boosted, and to mask indoors when social distancing is difficult.”
Lower Township reported the greatest number of resident active cases with 294, followed by Middle Township with 247 and Upper Township with 140.
Cape May City had all 37 cases of the coronavirus among non-residents in the county.
Ocean City had 88 active cases as of Friday, Wildwood had 68, Dennis Township had 46, Wildwood Crest had 38, Woodbine had 36, North Wildwood had 35, Cape May had 27, Sea Isle City had 21 and Avalon had 13. There were 8 cases in West Cape May, 7 in West Wildwood, 3 in Stone Harbor and no active cases in Cape May Point.
The department reported two deaths, an 83-year-old female from Upper Township and an 86-year-old male from Lower Township.
Cape May County has had 14,671 cases since the pandemic began in March 2020 and 249 fatalities attributed to COVID-19. Of the deaths, 103 were in long-term care, including 35 in Lower Township, 21 in Middle Township, 20 in Dennis Township, 15 in Ocean City and 12 in Woodbine.
In the communities, Middle Township has had 38 deaths attributed to COVID-19, Lower Township has had 36, Ocean City has had 15 and Upper Township has had 11.
Other deaths include Wildwood (11), Dennis Township and Woodbine (6 each), Cape May, North Wildwood and Sea Isle City (4 each), Wildwood Crest (3), West Cape May and Avalon (2 each), and West Wildwood (1). There have been no deaths attributed to the coronavirus in Cape May Point or Stone Harbor.
The CDC reports that 75,617 Cape May County residents have received at least one vaccine dose and 64,439 have been fully vaccinated.
There is a vaccination clinic from 2 to 5 p.m. today (Wednesday, Dec. 29) at the Cape May County Department of Health, 6 Moore Road in Cape May Court House offering the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
For more information on obtaining the vaccine, quickly and free of charge, go to capemaycountynj.gov/226/Health-Department or call (609) 465-1187.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff