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COURT HOUSE – June 3: Cape May County, for the first time since April 5, reported no new COVID-19 cases within the last 24 hours.
This news comes the day after the report that two-thirds of the county’s total cases, since the first confirmed case March 18, have been removed from quarantine. It also comes one month after the first steps at easing restrictions, with reopening county parks May 2, followed by easing constraints on non-essential construction, curbside retail, car gatherings, open beaches and boardwalks, allowance for elective surgeries and resumption of watercraft rentals and fishing charters, all accomplished more than two weeks ago.
With the reopening progressing and the start far enough distant to begin to measure its impact, the outbreak continues to slow.
Today, Gov. Murphy reported that the state’s positivity rate for May 30 was 4.28%. The Cape May County Health Department was able to report an even lower positivity for May 17-23, which was 2.5%.
This news is important because researchers argue that a high positivity rate means that a large number of untested individuals in the population have the coronavirus. One object of broader testing is to drive the positivity rate down, which appears to be happening in the county.
Freehold Director Thornton asks people to continue to be smart about social distancing and the appropriate use of facial protection.
