Approximately 100 cases of coronavirus have been linked to a party at the teenage home in Monmouth County and a separate Jersey Shore lifeguard meeting on Long Beach Island, leading state officials to urge caution for those types of outbreaks.
“We continue to see outbreaks emerging from youth meetings,” Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said during New Jersey’s 100th coronavirus briefing on Monday.
She said health officials have traced 35 new cases to a party among first responders on Long Beach Island. Eighteen lifeguards are from the Harvey Cedars beach patrol and 17 from Surf City’s, according to the island’s health department. About half have mild symptoms, while the rest are asymptomatic.
Local health authorities say the cases occurred at July 12-14 meetings, and not from beach patrols, where only one lifeguard sits in one position at a time.
“We must take every precaution to limit the spread of this virus,” he said, speaking specifically about young people who may not develop serious symptoms but could fuel the spread of the community. “We need them to take this threat to public health seriously.”
A recent house party involving at least 59 teens in Middletown led to the identification of 65 new cases in that Monmouth County town last week, Gov. Phil Murphy said. Of those, 52 cases involve people between the ages of 15 and 19, he said.
“We know there are outbreaks,” said Murphy. Initially, there were concerns that the teens and their parents were reluctant to help with the search efforts because the party involved underage drinking, but Murphy said Monday that local health officials are getting the necessary cooperation. .
With bars and restaurants still closed for internal service, Murphy said the restrictions may have spurred some of these “underground” activities and parties.
He also cited a massive house party in Jackson with 700 people packed into an AirBnb rental that police spent hours smashing on Sunday night. The owner and the two party organizers were summoned by the police.
“We ask that you be responsible in your home if you have a meeting,” Murphy said.
Gather outside. Meeting responsibly, ”he said. “Cover your face and stay away from each other. If you do that, it’s okay to do it. But don’t do the opposite of that.
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Amanda Hoover can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoov
