Monmouth County COVID Cases Rise

The Long Branch Health Department is seeing a spike in the number of people contracting COVID-19. In fact, Ocean and Monmouth Counties are currently seeing the largest COVID-19 case resurgence in New Jersey. The Health Department is deeply concerned that the resurgence in cases will continue due to a number of things such as people’s collective complacency about the virus, school openings, indoor dining and colder weather. We are all exhausted and want the pandemic to be over. However, we urge everyone to continue to be vigilant, protect yourself, your loved ones and others. The virus is still causing outbreaks across Europe, the United States and locally in Monmouth County, New Jersey.

Preventing COVID-19 and other viruses takes effort – but it’s worth it. What public health has learned and science shows is that wearing a mask, social distancing (staying 6 feet away from others not in your household) and washing your hands are the best practices to stopping the spread of the disease. Against the backdrop of the fall and winter, there still hasn’t been nearly enough people exposed to COVID-19 to reach herd immunity. Once approved, a vaccine at first will be strictly rationed. Vaccination of the general public won’t widely take place till summer-2021. It’s easy to let our guard down if we look at the rosy side of things. For now, we need to continue to wear masks in public places (indoor and outdoor). Winter is coming and that means there is more chance for viruses to survive in the air. It’s the time of year that a respiratory pathogen like coronavirus is more easily spread.

Additionally, during fall and winter months it is typical for people to experience symptoms of the flu. This year the combination of flu and COVID-19 make it difficult to initially differentiate the two. It is encouraging to know that many residents plan ahead to get their flu shot. If you haven’t yet received your flu shot, you need do so soon to reduce the likelihood of getting the flu and being sick from two viruses at the same time.

Viruses like COVID-19 and influenza lead to more hospitalizations of people 65 years or older, racial and ethnic minority populations, people with underlying medical conditions and with weaker immune systems. Dr. Anthony Fauci, an immunologist and director at the National Institutes of Health, suggested multiple ways to keep your immune system strong. Staying healthy includes a combination of eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts, getting 8 hours of sleep, and exercising (even a 20 minute walk each day can help). Dr. Fauci also stated that vitamin C and D supplements can boost a person’s immune system.

The LB Health Department urges you help keep yourself, your families and other residents safe by doing the above things. Most of all we need you to continue to mask up, maintain social distancing and avoid large gatherings until the time we are truly done with COVID-19.