Coronavirus Cases Rise In Essex County: 'Our 2nd Wave Has Begun'

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The coronavirus has been rearing its head throughout New Jersey over the past few weeks, and one of the state’s hardest-hit areas, Essex County, isn’t being spared, officials say.

Earlier this week, the state Department of Health's COVID-19 Activity Level Report said that the coronavirus activity level rose from “low” to “moderate” over the past week in 10 more New Jersey counties.

Essex County was among them.

Officials didn't say whether they believed the state was nearing the end of the first wave or if the second wave has begun. State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said they never considered the first wave to be over. READ MORE: 10 More NJ Counties Backslide In Coronavirus Crisis (Here's Where)

As of Monday, there have been 22,625 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in Essex County, according to state department of health data. Only Bergen County had more, with 23,845 positive test results.

There have been 1,904 confirmed deaths linked to the disease in Essex County, the highest total in any county in the state. There have also been 230 “probable deaths” connected to the virus, data showed.

Several municipalities and health officials in the region have been reporting rises and outbreaks of COVID-19 over the past month.

Montclair saw 28 new cases in a week. West Orange has seen its biggest weekly jump in coronavirus cases since June. And officials in North Caldwell recently warned about an outbreak throughout the West Essex area.

Some of the cases include students and staff at local school districts, and have triggered closures.

• See related article: 2 North Caldwell Schools To Close Amid Local COVID-19 Outbreak

• See related article: West Orange Schools See More COVID-19 Cases; Transportation Down

Last week in Maplewood, Mayor Frank McGehee and Health Officer Candice Davenport said in a stern letter that mask-wearing is now mandatory in the Maplewood Village area. They also cautioned against house parties, especially for teens.

“Collectively, we must change the way that we are behaving or more Maplewood residents will get sick, very sick or worse,” they wrote.

• See related article: Maplewood Mayor Says ‘Residents Will Get Sick ... Or Worse’

In Newark, which has seen more than 40 percent of the county’s case total as of Monday, the CEO of University Hospital, Shereef Elnahal, warned that “our second wave has begun.”

Elnahal, the former commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, tweeted that the COVID-19 test positivity rate at University Hospital was greater than 4 percent.

“Hospitalizations are also up,” Elnahal added. “And last week, we had our first death from complications of COVID in months. Please be vigilant and distance, mask up and avoid gatherings.”

Essex County officials released cumulative COVID-19 totals for each town and city on Tuesday, noting that their daily report may not match state or municipal totals (here's why).

Patch has included the U.S. Census' most recent population estimates for each municipality.

• Belleville – 1,260 cases, 67 deaths (population: 36,497)

• Bloomfield – 1,328 cases, 69 deaths (population: 49,973)

• Caldwell – 145 cases, 11 deaths (population: 7,941)

• Cedar Grove – 517 cases, 114 deaths (population: 12,489)

• East Orange – 2,195 cases, 231 deaths (population: 64,367)

• Essex Fells – 39 cases, 2 deaths (population: 2,085)

• Fairfield – 206 cases, 17 deaths (population: 7,474)

• Glen Ridge – 55 cases, 9 deaths (population: 7,574)

• Irvington – 1,671 cases, 162 deaths (population: 54,312)

• Livingston – 604 cases, 71 deaths (population: 30,303)

• Maplewood – 386 cases, 27 deaths (population: 25,380)

• Millburn – 191 cases, 6 deaths (population: 20,080)

• Montclair – 565 cases, 52 deaths (population: 38,564)

• Newark – 9,440 cases, 669 deaths (population: 282,011)

• North Caldwell – 80 cases, 4 deaths (population: 6,621)

• Nutley – 623 cases, 36 deaths (population: 28,434)

• Orange – 1,156 cases, 92 deaths (population: 30,551)

• Roseland – 111 cases, 14 deaths (population: 5,835)

• South Orange – 146 cases, 5 deaths (population: 16,691)

• Verona – 188 cases, 14 deaths (population: 13,390)

• West Caldwell – 327 cases, 49 deaths (population: 10,837)

• West Orange – 1,482 cases, 186 deaths (population: 47,563)

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This article originally appeared on the Montclair Patch