12 deaths in Atlantic County, one in Cape May County
UPDATE: On Thursday afternoon, the Atlantic County Division of Public Health reported an additional five deaths from COVID-19-related illnesses. They include a 78-year-old woman and 59-year old man of Hammonton, an 81-year-old Absecon man; a 78-year-old Egg Harbor Township man; and an 89-year old Linwood woman. Four of the five were residents of long-term care facilities. The division also reported 57 new COVID-19 cases including 32 females from 7 to 92 years old and 25 males from 22 to 88 years old, bringing the total to 960. The updated death toll is 42. Thursday’s new cases included 33 residents of Absecon, eight of Atlantic City and four of Egg Harbor Township. Galloway, Hamilton Township and Linwood each had three new positives, Pleasantville had two new cases and Weymouth had one. On Thursday afternoon, the Cape May County Department of Health announced an additional 17 cases, bringing the total to 340.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
As Gov. Phil Murphy was announcing that county and state parks and golf courses would reopen this Saturday, Cape May and Atlantic counties were reporting more cases and more deaths from COVID-19 complications.
On Wednesday the governor said the parks and golf courses could reopen Saturday morning provided people still practiced social distancing. It is the first easing of the COVID-19 restrictions. On Monday, Murphy outlined his six-point plan to reopen the New Jersey economy, but there were no firm dates included.
Statewide, deaths have now topped 6,770 and there have been 16,264 positive COVID-19 tests, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.
Cape May County
On Wednesday afternoon, April 29, the Cape May County Department of Public Health announced the COVID-19 death of an 89-year-old woman from Dennis Township, raising the total number of deaths in the county to 21.
The county also announced nine new positive tests for the coronavirus. The day before, the county said 12 new cases were found. The total number of cases now stands at 323 with 116 of those now off quarantine. Of the 21 deaths in the county, 15 are at long-term care facilities – 13 in Lower Township and two in Dennis Township. There are two additional deaths in Lower and one in Dennis. There are 22 active cases in long-term care facilities in Lower Township and 17 in Dennis. In addition, there are another 14 cases in Lower and 10 in Dennis not in long-term facilities.
Two deaths have also been reported in Upper Township and one in Woodbine.
Middle and Upper townships now lead the county in active cases with 32 and 28, respectively. Wildwood has 18 and Ocean City has 13. There are two cases in Woodbine, four in North Wildwood and one each in Avalon, West Cape May and Wildwood Crest.
There are no reported active cases in Cape May, Cape May Point, Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor and West Wildwood.
Seven deaths in Atlantic County
The Atlantic County Division of Public Health announced five new deaths from COVID-19 complications on Tuesday along with 102 new cases and two more deaths on Wednesday and 25 new cases.
Atlantic County now has 903 confirmed cases, 37 deaths and 157 residents listed as recovered, according to Linda Gilmore, public information officer for the county.
The numbers Tuesday the fatalities were a 71-year old-man and a 73-year-old woman from Linwood as three from Hammonton – a 75-year-old man, 86-year old-man and 86-year-old woman.
Of the 102 cases, 63 were women from 19 to 95 years old and 39 were men 26 to 95 years old.
For the second consecutive day, Gilmore reported, there was a spike in daily cases attributed to the fact that the state is currently working with Cooper Hospital to provide testing at 16 long-term care facilities in south Jersey. “Positive cases in these facilities are now being included in the county’s daily counts. As more testing is completed, more positive cases are being identified,” Gilmore said.
Tuesday new cases included 27 residents of Hammonton and Galloway as well as 20 Absecon residents. Seven new cases were confirmed in Atlantic City and Egg Harbor Township, five in Hamilton Township and four in Pleasantville. Somers Point and Ventnor each had two new cases and Buena Borough had one.
On Wednesday, the Division of Public Health reported the deaths of 91-year-old Egg Harbor Township woman and 83-year-old man in Hammonton from complications from the coronavirus. “Both individuals were residents of long-term care facilities who had pre-existing health conditions that contributed to their deaths,” Gilmore reported.
Of the 25 residents who tested positive, 13 were women ages 18 to 96 and 12 were age 28 to 80.
Wednesday’s new cases included six residents in Hammonton and Galloway and three residents in Mullica Township. Egg Harbor Township, Hamilton Township and Northfield each had two residents test positive. Buena Borough, Buena Vista, Estell Manor and Port Republic each had one new confirmation.
Testing
Testing was postponed on April 30 because of the weather forecast but those appointments were rescheduled for Monday, May 4, at the same times.
Atlantic County will have drive-thru testing from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, and Thursday, May, by appointment only for symptomatic county residents with a doctor’s prescription, behind the Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing.
Atlantic County has tested nearly 700 residents to date with a 27.1 percent rate of positivity among those tested, Gilmore added, noting the statewide rate of positivity has been slowly decreasing but remains more than 40 percent.
Residents may make an appointment for testing online at www.aclink.org.