County’s COVID-19 Contagion Rises

To access the Herald’s local coronavirus/COVID-19 coverage, click here.
COURT HOUSE – According to a release from the Cape May County Health Department (CMCHD), during the evening of April 6, the county has 99 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection, with 83 of those cases active, 15 representing individuals who have recovered and one death.
The county had not reported statistics for 48 hours, leaving many residents to rely solely on state announcements, which included two additional deaths in the county. The county Health Department now states that one of those deaths was an individual whose family had a home in Ocean City, but who was not a permanent resident and did not die in the county. The department further stated that the other reported county death was an input error at the state level.
Since the county did not report from April 4 afternoon until April 6 evening, the state statistics went unchallenged.
The April 6 CMCHD numbers show a dramatic spike in COVID-19 contagion in the county.  In just one week of April, confirmed cases in the county have grown from 26 cases on March 31 to 99 on April 6, an increase of 73 individuals.
Much of that rise in confirmed cases has occurred in Lower Township, where CMCHD lists 15 individuals and 11 staff as positive for the virus at Victoria Manor, a long-term care facility. Other residents and staff also met the criteria for testing, but results are still pending. Health Officer Kevin Thomas stated “the situation is very serious.”
County spokesman Denis Brown said the numbers for Lower Township may be adjusted April 7 as the situation at Victoria Manor continues to change.
The other spike in municipal numbers, in the CMCHD April 6 release, was in Middle Township, where the active cases moved to 15 from seven two days earlier.
At a virtual meeting of the Middle Township Committee April 6, Mayor Timothy Donohue predicted that the “next two weeks will be critical” in the township and the county.
The virus came late to Cape May County, but community spread is evident, despite a variety of efforts to contain the contagion.
The Virus Arrives
On March 18, the CMCHD reported the first case of COVID-19 infection. A 30-year-male, from New York, visited the shore and sought medical attention.
On that same day, the state reported 427 positive tests and one death.
The numbers grew slowly in the county. By March 23, the county had five confirmed cases.  Health officials warned that “the virus could be circulating in the county.”
County and municipal officials began closing government buildings and recreational facilities. On that same day, the county issued a call for the donation of protective equipment, including masks and gloves.  All campgrounds were ordered to postpone opening for the season.
On March 24, a 32-year-old woman, from New York, became the county’s sixth confirmed case.  Three more cases followed the day after, including the youngest to date, a 19-year-old female. The total stood at nine confirmed cases on the same day that the state reported 4,402 positive tests.
From March 18-25, the total cases had grown from one to nine, and daily life was beginning to change. A slow but steady growth in cases continued for the remainder of the month.
On March 30, the total cases showed 19 positive tests, with five of those individuals reported as recovered. In that group of 19, individuals ages ranged from a 12-year-old girl to a 93-year-old female.  
The month ended with seven new cases March 31, raising the total to 26, with five of those cases listed as recovered. On that same day, the state reported 18,696 cases with 267 deaths.
April Changes Things
In the first six days of April, the number of confirmed cases in Cape May County grew from 26 to 99, spread across all but three of the county’s municipalities. 
April 1 saw seven new cases reported, and April 2 had 16 added to county totals. Only four new cases were reported the next day, but 16 confirmed cases were again added to county totals on April 4, bringing the total cases to 69.
The county reported the first death April 4, a 72-year-old female, “with underlying health conditions.”
On April 6, the state dashboard shows a state-wide total of 41,090 cases, with 1,003 deaths attributed to COVID-19. That dashboard also shows Cape May County with three deaths, a figure corrected later, in the county release.
With intense public concern for these reports, the need for a daily county release at a predictable time is important, since the county-specific data is likely to be the most useful to the public.
The Worst Likely Still to Come
State officials have warned that the coming weeks will see a surge in cases, with Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli saying she believes that the surge has started.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that the cumulative rate of hospitalizations was up drastically at the end of March. The rate of hospitalizations per 100,000 of the population by age group has been compiled by the CDC and shows a definite link between age and the likely need for hospital care if infected.
This has to be a concern in Cape May County, which has the highest median age of any of the state’s counties in terms of its permanent population.
County municipalities have called in unison for visitors and second homeowners to refrain from visiting their towns. Following a state emergency management order April 4, municipalities were given added authority to restrict short-term rentals. County towns are using that authority to ban transient, seasonal and short term rentals, in a further effort to discourage visitors.
Health officials continue to urge the public to practice home isolation, social distancing when out for essential tasks and adherence to appropriate hygiene guidance from the CDC.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
ED. NOTE: See the Herald website for daily COVID-19 updates and related coverage.