By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
There were 115 active cases among Cape May County residents as of Sunday’s report from the Department of Health, but by Monday, Sept. 21, that number had dropped to 82.
As of Sept. 21, Middle Township had the highest number of active cases among residents with 20, followed by Lower Township with 14, and Ocean City and Upper Township with 9 each.
There were eight active cases among residents in North Wildwood, seven in Dennis Township and Six in Sea Isle City.
As New Jersey’s case total climbed over 200,000, Cape May County and Salem County have been the lowest in the state for total cases and fatalities.
The department has reported 90 deaths from COVID-19 in Cape May County – 62 of them in long-term care – since the pandemic began in March and 1,299 cases – including 10 new cases among residents Monday but no new cases among visitors or in long-term care.
The greatest number of cases are in counties closest to New York City. Bergen County reported more than 22,000 cases and more than 1,800 confirmed deaths; Essex County has had nearly 21,000 cases and about 1,900 deaths; and Hudson County has had more than 20,500 cases and 1,345 deaths.
Other active cases in the county include three each in Wildwood and Woodbine and one each in Cape May, Cape May Point and Stone Harbor.
There were no active cases as of Sept. 21 in Avalon, West Cape May and West Wildwood.
There were four active cases among non-residents – two in Upper Township and one each in Cape May and Sea Isle. Of the four active cases in long-term care, three were in Woodbine and one in Dennis Township.
Lower Township remains the hardest hit by the coronavirus, with 307 cases, 33 fatalities in long-term care and another nine fatalities in the community. Middle Township is next with 268 cases and 13 fatalities – 10 of them in long-term care.
Upper Township has reported 138 cases and three fatalities; Woodbine has had 119 cases and 11 fatalities, including nine in long-term care; and Dennis Township has 113 cases and 11 fatalities, including eight in long-term care.
North Wildwood has had three deaths from COVID-19, there have been two each in Cape May and Wildwood, and one in Ocean City.
Avalon, Cape May Point, Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor, West Cape May, West Wildwood and Wildwood Crest have not suffered any coronavirus-related deaths.
“The closer you interact with others and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread,” according to Cape May County Health Officer Kevin Thomas. “If you decide to engage in social activities, it is important to protect yourself and practice prevention measures, such as social distancing, hand hygiene and wearing a facial covering.”