West Orange Saw Jump In COVID Cases Before Christmas: Officials

WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange is kicking off the new year the same way it began 2021, the town’s mayor says: with a rise in coronavirus cases.

Mayor Robert Parisi issued a call for caution to residents on Wednesday, a few days before Christmas.

“As we come to the holidays, we are preparing to begin the new year the same way we began this year… with COVID cases on the rise and the virus and new variants spreading quickly,” he said.

According to Parisi:

“The township is strongly encouraging all residents to return to wearing masks in indoor public settings such as shopping, movies, or visiting local restaurants. This small gesture is one of the best ways to limit the spread of the virus. We understand and share in the frustration that COVID continues to bring to our lives but we all share the responsibility, as a community, in protecting each other and our families. We want all residents to have a safe and Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and a joyous holiday season… but get your vaccination, your booster and get tested.”

If residents haven't been vaccinated or received their booster, there are locations nearby for receiving both, Parisi said:

“Essex County continues to operate the vaccination and testing centers at the KMart location here in West Orange, as well as a center at Essex County College in Newark and the Sears Building at the Livingston Mall in Livingston. Vaccinations are currently available for all residents ages 5 and older, and booster shots are currently available for all residents ages 16 and older who are at least six months from their last COVID vaccination. Vaccinations and boosters are available Monday through Saturday and require an appointment. Appointments can be made by visiting essexcovid.org or by calling 973-877-8456.”

Parisi also pointed out that free saliva PCR testing is also available at these three locations, Monday through Saturday. No appointment is necessary for COVID testing.

In addition to these three locations operated by the county, information about other vaccination and testing locations throughout the state are available on the township website at www.westorange.org/coronavirus.

NEW COVID CASES IN WEST ORANGE

Parisi gave an update on the town’s coronavirus numbers on Christmas Eve, noting that there have been 591 additional cases since his last weekly update.

He wrote:

“Thankfully, there are zero additional COVID-19 related deaths to report. The township total stands at 239 of our neighbors that have succumbed to the virus. There are 591 additional cases since last update bringing the West Orange total intake of cases to 7,139. Two residents are currently hospitalized.”

Parisi shared the following COVID-19 totals for the township:

• Total INTAKE of West Orange Confirmed Cases – 7,139 (deaths are included in this number and remain active until full investigation is complete)
• Cases Officially Transferred to other Municipalities – 183
• Recovered & Closed Cases – 6,716
• Total Current ACTIVE West Orange Cases – 240
• Total NEGATIVE Test Results of West Orange Residents – 17,758

The 591 additional confirmed cases break down as follows, Parisi noted:

Female:

• Ages 0-4 - 12
• Ages 5-17 - 70
• Ages 18+ - 235

Male:

• Ages 0-4 - 8
• Ages 5-17 - 83
• Ages 18+ - 183

Parisi said that on Dec. 20, the New Jersey State Department of Health Contact Tracing System pivoted the way cases are handled in its database due to “unprecedented case counts.”

“This change impacts the ability to accurately report the true number of cases as has been done since reporting began,” Parisi stated. “We will no longer have the ability to report certain data but will continue to report the data that we are able to capture.”

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