Virus Spreads in County; 8 Dead

To access the Herald’s local coronavirus/COVID-19 coverage, click here.
COURT HOUSE – April 14: The first Cape May County case of COVID-19 infection was reported March 18. Today, almost four weeks later, the county reports 167 confirmed cases and eight deaths. Sixty eight of those new cases came in the last week with significant growth in positive test results in both Lower and Middle townships.
Much of the Lower Township surge in cases can be attributed to an outbreak at the Victoria Manor long-term care facility. One week ago, on April 6, the county Department of Health (DOH) reported that 15 residents and 11 staff at the Victoria Manor tested positive for the virus.  On that same day the total cases reported county-wide spiked by 30 confirmed individuals in a two-day tally.
The progress of the virus in the county shows certain areas of early infection have leveled off or shifted in terms of just a few cases. This is true of Avalon, Cape May City, North Wildwood, and Sea Isle City.  West Cape May, West Wildwood, and Woodbine reported a combined five cases all since April 4 or later. Collectively, these communities have accounted for eight new cases in the month of April. Two other communities, Stone Harbor and Cape May Point are still free of confirmed cases.
The April spike which went from 26 confirmed cases reported on March 31 to 167 such cases April 13 largely came from Lower and Middle townships which reported two out of every three new cases. Together they are 43% of the county’s population and, as of April 13, 65% of the total confirmed cases.
Of the eight deaths reported thus far by county health officials, six have been associated with the outbreak at Victoria Manor. The outbreak came at a facility whose residents are naturally at a highest risk of serious complications associated with the viral infection.
 The county reports have mentioned no similar hot spot in Middle Township.
 The case distribution suggests that the smaller communities in the county, acting quickly to close down facilities and stress home isolation and social distancing practices have thus far contained their numbers of confirmed cases.
The larger communities, which are also often centers of essential services, faced a greater challenge with lockdown strategies. Add to that an outbreak in a vulnerable nursing home and the spread and location evident in the numbers is almost predicable. As with the state, the peak in the cases is probably still ahead.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
ED. NOTE: See the Herald website for daily COVID-19 updates and related coverage.