Atlantic County testing to take place April 14 and 16
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
The Cape May County Department of Health reported late Thursday, April 9, that another resident of Victoria Manor in North Cape May has died from COVID-19 and that a total of 19 residents and 14 staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus at “several” assisted living and long-term care facilities in the county.
That brings the total to three deaths related to COVID-19 at nursing homes. The other was an Upper Township woman. The latest death was an 83-year-old woman who resided at Victoria Manor, where there has been a breakout of residents and staff testing positive for COVID-19.
In neighboring Atlantic County, there are now six people who have died from COVID-19. The latest, reported Thursday afternoon, were a 47-year-old Brigantine man and an 81-year-old Egg Harbor Township woman. Both, the Atlantic County Division of Public Health reported, had underlying health conditions.
There are also 25 new cases of the virus for a total so far of 198 across Atlantic County. That includes 15 men from age 28 to 81 and 10 women ages 29 to 98.
The new cases, the Division of Public Health said, were in Atlantic City – 1; Brigantine – 1; Buena – 1; Egg Harbor Township – 6; Estell Manor – 1; Galloway – 3; Hamilton – 5; Hammonton – 2; Linwood – 1; Mullica – 1; Pleasantville – 2; Weymouth – 1.
Breakdown in Cape May County
Lower Township continues to have the highest number of COVID-19 cases with 38 active and three related deaths, according to the Department of Health. The majority of cases have been reported at Victoria Manor.
Middle Township has 17 and Ocean City, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest have seven each.
Upper Township has six reported cases and one fatality.
Avalon has four cases, West Cape May and North Wildwood have two each, and there is one case in Cape May City and West Wildwood. There are no active cases in Cape May Point, Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor and Woodbine.
The total number of cases has risen to 116. Of that, 15 stricken with COVID-19 are off quarantine.
According to the state Health Department more than half of New Jersey’s 375 long-term care facilities have at least one resident who tested positive for COVID-19.
As of Thursday afternoon, the state was reporting 51,027 positive cases of the novel coronavirus and 1,700 fatalities.
Testing in Atlantic County
Atlantic County will open its COVID-19 testing to symptomatic residents of the county from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, and Thursday, April 16, behind the Hamilton Mall, 4403 E. Black Horse Pike in Mays Landing.
Residents can make an appointment starting at 10 a.m. Friday, April 10, by going to the county website at www.aclink.org and clicking on the COVID-19 testing link.
Residents will have to provide a doctor’s script, verification of residency such as a driver’s license or utility bill, and confirmation of appointment. Individuals not experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness will not be tested.
“Test results will be provided to the Atlantic County Division of Public Health and the physician who writes the script,” according to Linda Gilmore, public relations officer for the county. “All residents who are tested will be notified of their results by public health staff within one week, depending upon the volume of tests being processed by the lab.”
The county held testing for first responders and health care workers on Thursday, April 9.
