Health & Fitness
‘Zero Patients With Active COVID’ At Newark Hospital, CEO Says
Two years ago, University Hospital was so overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases that a U.S. Army medical team was sent to help it cope.
![The CEO at University Hospital in Newark reported a major coronavirus landmark on Thursday: “zero patients with active COVID-19.”](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/shutterstock/22844250/20220303/020442/styles/patch_image/public/shutterstock-796985005___03140302811.jpg)
NEWARK, NJ — It wasn’t long ago that University Hospital was so overwhelmed with coronavirus cases that an 85-person medical team from the U.S. Army was dispatched to help it cope with the chaos. But things have changed since April 2020 at the busy Newark hospital, which reported a major landmark on Thursday: “zero patients with active COVID-19.”
That was the word from CEO Shereef Elnahal, the former commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, who tweeted the update along with a message of hope.
“Huge milestone for our health care heroes, and the patients and families we serve,” he wrote. “Let’s keep this going as long as possible.”
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The hospital recently got another assist from the U.S. military during the omicron surge; doctors, nurses and staff at the hospital bid farewell to 25 military medical support team members last week. Read More: Military COVID Staff Applauded As They Leave Newark Hospital
Elnahal’s announcement came on the same day as another major coronavirus milestone in Newark: the lifting of the city’s indoor mask mandate.
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New Jersey’s largest city is "trending in the right direction" when it comes to coronavirus transmission, Newark officials said Wednesday. Read More: NJ Moves Essex County To 'Low' COVID Activity Level
The Department of Health and Community Wellness has been tracking COVID-19 in Newark, and reports that its test positivity rate between Feb. 21 and Feb. 27 was 1.57 percent, which is progressively lower than prior weeks.
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