CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – Although the number of active COVID-19 cases remains very high in Cape May County, the rate of transmission has slowed and officials believe that should lead to new cases declining in the near future.
County officials continue to ask residents to get vaccinated, get the booster shot if eligible and to wear masks, especially indoors, when social distancing isn’t possible.
There were 2,329 active cases among residents in the county reported in the county Health Department’s numbers as of Friday, Jan. 14, up slightly from the week before, but still much higher than previous peaks during the pandemic. The increased numbers are attributed to the highly contagious Omicron variant.
There also were four new deaths linked to the coronavirus, two men, 73 and 76 years old, from Lower Township, a 77-year-old man from Middle Township and a 67-year-old man from Woodbine. There have been 260 deaths in Cape May County attributed to COVID since the pandemic began in March 2020.
The most active cases among residents are in Middle Township with 603, Lower Township with 501, Upper Township with 334 and Ocean City with 247. Middle Township also has 67 cases in long-term care facilities; Lower has 18.
Cape May City had 54 active cases among residents and another 44 among non-residents.
Other active cases include Wildwood with 156; Dennis Township, 147; Wildwood Crest, 73; North Wildwood, 68; Woodbine, 57; Sea Isle City, 43; Avalon, 16; West Cape May, 13; Stone Harbor, 8; West Wildwood, 6; and Cape May Point, 3.
Since March 2020, there have been a total of 18,668 coronavirus cases in the county.
“All of the resources we need to fight COVID-19 will be available to our team here in Cape May County,” said Cape May County Commission Director Gerald M. Thornton. “Public messaging has always been a key component in our overall effort and will continue to be so in the future.”
The Health Department reported the rate of transmission dropped to 1.05 from 1.23 the week before. Officials explained when the rate falls below 1.0, transmission of new cases will be declining. It added the county has the lowest daily new cases per 100,000 residents and the third lowest rate of transmission among all New Jersey counties.
The Cape May County Department of Health is offering multiple COVID vaccine clinics every week, including initial doses and booster shots of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Individuals that 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 all of New Jersey. These are walk-in clinics. Masks, identification, and COVID-19 Vaccine Cards (if applicable) are required for all clinic locations. This week, vaccines will be available 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 19) at the Avalon Community Center, 3001 Avalon Ave. in Avalon.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff