Mercer County COVID Cases Remain 'Very High:' See Town Updates

Tom Davis

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — The coronavirus continues to take a grim toll on Mercer County, impacting local businesses and schools in the region, according to updated state data (see town-by-town update below).

The state Department of Health's most recent "COVID-19 Activity Level Report," which is issued weekly, says Mercer County is in the “red zone” for coronavirus cases.

Mercer County reported a 10-month total of 18,920 cases on Saturday, an increase of more than 762 from the previous week.

Mercer is among a number of counties that have started vaccination programs, announced immunization sites or both. Read more: Updated Information As Mercer COVID Vaccine Sites Announced

The “red zone,” meanwhile, means the daily new COVID-19 virus case rate, per 100,000 people, rose to "very high" in all 21 counties. That means they exceed 25 cases per 1,000 people.

The latest reports say the overall coronavirus activity level also rose from "moderate," or “yellow,” to "high," or “orange,” in recent weeks in all 21 New Jersey counties.

With the rise to a "high" level, state officials said, school districts in those counties may have to take more serious steps — such as quarantining or even shutting down schools — if a child shows the symptoms of COVID-19.

"When it is high risk, there are some recommendations that we make together with local school boards," said Edward Lifshitz, medical director for the state Department of Health.

Indeed, a number of school districts have shifted to remote instruction as the numbers have risen.

The overall coronavirus risk rose to "high" in each of the counties because:

  • The new daily case rate in each of the counties rose to 10 or more per 100,000 people.

  • The percent of COVID-19-like illnesses rose above 5.52 in each of the counties.

  • The percent of positive cases rose above 10.01.

Mercer County officials provided the following breakdown of cases by town:

EAST WINDSOR TWP

Population 2010: 27,190 Pop/SqMi: 1,737

Report Date: 12/29/2020, 7:00 AM

Daily Cases: 7 Total Cases: 1,417

EWING TWP

Population 2010: 35,790 Pop/SqMi: 2,302

Report Date: 12/29/2020, 7:00 AM

Daily Cases: 13 Total Cases: 1,931

HAMILTON TWP

Population 2010: 88,464 Pop/SqMi: 2,199

Report Date: 12/29/2020, 7:00 AM

Daily Cases: 54 Total Cases: 5,074

HIGHTSTOWN BORO

Population 2010: 5,494 Pop/SqMi: 4,360

Report Date: 12/29/2020, 7:00 AM

Daily Cases: 0 Total Cases: 347

HOPEWELL BORO

Population 2010: 1,922 Pop/SqMi: 2,669

Report Date: 12/29/2020, 7:00 AM

Daily Cases: 2 Total Cases: 40

HOPEWELL TWP

Population 2010: 17,304 Pop/SqMi: 294

Report Date: 12/29/2020, 7:00 AM

Daily Cases: 2 Total Cases: 470

LAWRENCE TWP

Population 2010: 33,472 Pop/SqMi: 1,524

Report Date: 12/29/2020, 7:00 AM

Daily Cases: 8 Total Cases: 1,265

PENNINGTON BORO

Population 2010: 2,585 Pop/SqMi: 2,665

Report Date: 12/29/2020, 7:00 AM

Daily Cases: 3 Total Cases: 65

PRINCETON

Population 2010: 28,572 Pop/SqMi: 1,552

Report Date: 12/29/2020, 7:00 AM

Daily Cases: 7 Total Cases: 492

ROBBINSVILLE TWP

Population 2010: 13,642 Pop/SqMi: 663

Report Date: 12/29/2020, 7:00 AM

Daily Cases: 4 Total Cases: 543

TRENTON CITY

Population 2010: 84,913 Pop/SqMi: 10,317

Report Date: 12/29/2020, 7:00 AM

Daily Cases: 26 Total Cases: 6,086

WEST WINDSOR TWP

Population 2010: 27,165 Pop/SqMi: 1,035

Report Date: 12/29/2020, 7:00 AM

Daily Cases: 8 Total Cases: 597


This article originally appeared on the Princeton Patch

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