COVID-19 update:
The Health Department has investigated an additional 31 cases this week and we are sadly reporting 5 recent hospitalizations. Our total case count as of December 10th is 323. The majority of cases in the Hopewell Valley during October and November have been among children, teenagers, and adults under age 60. Small private gatherings, including those with neighbors, continue to be a source of transmission and are highly discouraged.
Over the course of this pandemic, clinicians have seen troubling long-term health effects in COVID-19 patients including heart, lung, and nervous system damage. The CDC recently published updated quarantine guidance for people exposed to COVID-19. To be clear, a full 14-day quarantine remains the safest option to protect our community. This duration is the length of time covering the entire incubation period for the virus and so symptoms may appear up to and including day 14 after exposure. Given our current level of community transmission, alternative quarantine options should be reserved for situations of economic or other significant hardship. For more information: https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/topics/NCOV/quarantine-options.pdf.
Many of us are understandably struggling with the loss of normalcy in our lives and altering of long-anticipated holiday events. Please share these tips and resources for managing stress and practicing resiliency as we navigate this unusual winter: https://www.responsibility.org/resources-for-coping-with-stress-during-coronavirus/.