Ocean County Positive Covid-19 Cases Climb To 557

The amount of positive Covid-19 coronavirus cases in Ocean County has risen to 557 in the latest tally Friday afternoon by the Ocean County Health Department which includes 89 new cases.

Lakewood Township has 236 of the 557 cases in Ocean County.

Toms River has the second most with 69, Jackson has 57 cases.

• The first case of the coronavirus to reach Ocean County was confirmed in Manchester Township when a 72-year old man contracted the disease.

• The potential exposure of the coronavirus to a Manchester Police Officer and EMT's who responded to a first aid call last week of a man who later tested positive for the disease led to them being asked to self-quarantine as a precaution.
• The Ocean County Health Department/Office of Emergency Management is opening up a drive-thru testing center for Ocean County residents at Ocean County College.
• Lakewood Police have broken up multiple weddings and other large social gatherings across different neighborhoods in the township over the last couple weeks, several criminal complaints were issued for violation of Governor Murphy's 'Do Not Gather' Directive.
• Ocean County Emergency Management and Ocean County Health Department officials are continuing to meet daily to not only address the ongoing pandemic but be prepared for any future events.
• As the amount of positive coronavirus cases continue to rise in New Jersey, Police Chiefs in Ocean County are coming up with alternate response methods to keep officers safe as well as residents.
  

Ocean County Public Health Coordinator Dan Regenye said that if you experience symptoms such as a fever, dry cough or have difficulty breathing, start by remaining calm, then call your primary care physician, insurance company and even the Ocean County Health Department.

"If they do experience any of these symptoms the major thing is not to panic but to stay informed and contact their health care provider if they have any concerns," Regenye said. "If they're working with us, and we're either self-monitoring or we're working with them to be tested...if their symptoms get worse, we would ask them not to present themselves at the hospital or their physicians office. Work with us and we'll get you to the proper level of care with the proper notice to those establishments so you can get the proper level of treatment that's needed."