Morris Co.'s Cases Remain In COVID 'Red Zone:' See Town Updates

Tom Davis
Updated ·2 min read

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — The coronavirus continues to take a grim toll on Morris 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 Morris County is in the “red zone” for coronavirus cases.

Morris County reported 25,820 cases on Saturday, an increase of 1,615, or 6 percent, from the previous week.

The “red zone” 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 100,000 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.

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

  • Boonton 488

  • Boonton Township 322

  • Butler 441

  • Chatham Borough 241

  • Chatham Township 344

  • Chester Borough 54

  • Chester Township 274

  • Denville 735

  • Dover 2084

  • East Hanover 566

  • Florham Park 464

  • Hanover 620

  • Harding 135

  • Jefferson 1120

  • Kinnelon 589

  • Lincoln Park 800

  • Long Hill 245

  • Madison 528

  • Mendham Borough 205

  • Mendham Township 187

  • Mine Hill 292

  • Montville 999

  • Morris Plains 364

  • Morris Township 963

  • Morristown 1519

  • Mount Arlington 261

  • Mount Olive 1216

  • Mountain Lakes 155

  • Netcong 156

  • Parsippany 2632

  • Pequannock 925

  • Randolph 1180

  • Riverdale 252

  • Rockaway Borough 365

  • Rockaway Township 1462

  • Roxbury 1148

  • Victory Gardens 187

  • Washington Township 614

  • Wharton 668

This article originally appeared on the Parsippany Patch