Morris County's COVID Cases Remain 'Very High:' See Town Updates

Russ Crespolini

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 the town-by-town cases 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 had 20,389 cases as of Saturday, a 1,639 increase since Dec. 31st and a 4,288 increase since Dec. 10th.

Morris is among a number of counties that have started vaccination programs, announced immunization sites or both. Read more: Update As COVID-19 Vaccine Sites Announced In Morris County

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.

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

  • Boonton 369

  • Boonton Township 267

  • Butler 351

  • Chatham Borough 183

  • Chatham Township 286

  • Chester Borough 43

  • Chester Township 210

  • Denville 573

  • Dover 1793

  • East Hanover 442

  • Florham Park 366

  • Hanover 529

  • Harding 94

  • Jefferson 816

  • Kinnelon 441

  • Lincoln Park 685

  • Long Hill 190

  • Madison 405

  • Mendham Borough 163

  • Mendham Township 132

  • Mine Hill 240

  • Montville 755

  • Morris Plains 279

  • Morris Township 779

  • Morristown 1311

  • Mount Arlington 185

  • Mount Olive 894

  • Mountain Lakes 121

  • Netcong 108

  • Parsippany 2167

  • Pequannock 719

  • Randolph 946

  • Riverdale 194

  • Rockaway Borough 308

  • Rockaway Township 995

  • Roxbury 886

  • Victory Gardens 128

  • Washington Township 455

  • Wharton 542

Fluctuations in numbers from previous dates may be due to cases being transferred out of jurisdiction and/or further investigation revealing that the case was incorrectly reported to the NJDOH/local health department as confirmed.

The figures reflect COVID-19 positive cases as of the date and time indicated, some cases may be pending, or have yet to be entered into the system.

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This article originally appeared on the Parsippany Patch

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