More COVID-19 cases in Cape May and Atlantic counties over weekend

By DAVID NAHAN,Sentinel and star and Wave

Over the weekend COVID-19 cases rose in a number of Cape May County communities while health officials have reported more than 20 percent of those with the virus are now off quarantine.

In Atlantic County, cases increased by 36 on Saturday and Sunday bringing the total to 406 as of April 19 with 19 deaths and 71 individuals reported as recovered.

There were 22 news cases on Saturday and 14 on Sunday. An 84-year-old Egg Harbor Township woman with underlying health conditions was the latest fatality Saturday, according to the Atlantic County Division of Public Health.

In Cape May County, Lower Township has a total of 54 active cases and 10 of the county’s 13 deaths from COVID-19, most based around an outbreak at the Victoria Manor long-term care facility in North Cape May.

Middle Township has 34 cases, Upper Township has 19 and Ocean City and Wildwood have 14 each, according to the Cape May County Department of Health.

In other communities, Dennis Township has seven cases, Wildwood Crest has five, North Wildwood has two and there are one each in Cape May, West Cape May, West Wildwood and Woodbine.

There are no active cases reported in Avalon, Cape May Point, Sea Isle City, and Stone Harbor. Eight people are off quarantine in Middle Township, seven in Lower Township, six in Avalon, four in Upper Township and three each in Cape May, Dennis Township, North Wildwood, Ocean City, Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest. Two are off quarantine in Sea Isle City.

“We urge individuals to remain home,” according to Cape May County Health Officer Kevin Thomas. “If they must leave on an essential errand it is important to protect yourself. By social distancing you can protect yourself and others.”

In Atlantic County Sunday, 14 COVID-19 cases were confirmed, including five residents from Galloway, four from Egg Harbor Township, two from Hamilton Township and one each from Atlantic City, Buena Vista Township and Pleasantville. On Saturday, there were 22 cases, including six from Hammonton, three from Linwood residents and two each from Egg Harbor Township, Hamilton Township and Pleasantville.  Absecon, Brigantine, Buena, Galloway, Northfield, Somers Point and Ventnor each had one new positive resident.

Symptomatic Atlantic County residents who want to make an appointment for drive-thru testing from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 21 or Thursday, April 23 must present a doctor’s prescription and proof of residency along with confirmation of their appointment which can be made online at: www.aclink.org.

Continue safeguards

The Cape May County Department of Health offered the following guidelines for people to protect themselves if they have to go shopping:

1. Stay home if sick.
2. Avoid shopping if you are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19, which include a fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
3. Order online or use curbside pickup.
4. Order food and other items online for home delivery or curbside pickup (if possible).
5. Only visit the grocery store, or other stores selling household essentials, in person when you absolutely need to. This will limit your potential exposure to others and the virus that causes COVID-19.
6. Protect yourself while shopping.
7. Stay at least 6 feet away from others while shopping and in lines.
8. Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when you must go out in public.
9. When you do have to visit in person, go during hours when fewer people will be there (for example, early morning or late night).
10. If you are at higher risk for severe illness, find out if the store has special hours for people at higher risk. If they do, try to shop during those hours. People at higher risk for severe illness include adults 65 or older and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions.
11. Disinfect the shopping cart, use disinfecting wipes if available.
12. Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
13. If possible, use touchless payment (pay without touching money, a card, or a keypad). If you must handle money, a card, or use a keypad, use hand sanitizer right after paying.
14. Use hand sanitizer when you leave the store. Wash your hands when you get home.
15. After leaving the store, use hand sanitizer. When you get home, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
16. At home, follow food safety guidelines: clean, separate, cook, chill. There is no evidence that food or food packaging has been linked to getting sick from COVID-19.

Call your healthcare professional if you have concerns about COVID-19 and your underlying health conditions. Stay up to date on the current situation as it evolves. Some reliable sources are New Jersey Poison Information and Education System hotline at 211 or 1-800-962-1253, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov, the World Health Organization at www.who.int, the New Jersey Department of Health at COVID19.nj.gov. For additional information visit Cape May County Department of Health at www.cmchealth.net, also like us on Facebook.