The local death toll hits 218, with 80 percent (175) of deaths associated with a long-term care (LTC) facility, as Camden County seeks a state monitor for five LTCs.
By Matt Skoufalos | May 8, 2020
NJDOH COVID-19 Dashboard – 5-8-20. Credit: NJDOH.
Eleven more Camden County residents have died from complications related to novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Camden County government reported Friday, bringing the local death toll to 218 during the pandemic.
The deceased were among 162 more New Jerseyans to have lost their lives to COVID-19-related causes, as the statewide total climbed to 8,952 deaths, including the first child in the state to die in the pandemic.
“We have now lost nearly 9,000 of our fellow residents,” Governor Phil Murphy said at Friday’s briefing.
“In all of World War II, we lost 12,600.
“We know we will lose many more, but how many, and whether we mark another solemn milestone we do not wish to pass is again overwhelmingly up to us,” Murphy said, encouraging residents to maintain social distancing, cover their faces, and wash hands frequently.
The deceased were:
- a Barrington woman in her 90s
- a Bellmawr woman in her 80s
- a Camden City woman in her 80s
- two Cherry Hill men, one each in his 80s and 90s; and a woman in her 70s
- a Collingswood woman in her 90s
- a Gloucester Township man in his 90s
- two Voorhees men, one each in his 60s and 70s; and a woman in her 80s
Camden County OEM ships PPE to long-term care sites across the county. Credit: Rich Ratner.
Focus on long-term care sites
Of 3,890 local COVID-19 cases, 1,015 have originated in a Camden County long-term care (LTC) facility, or 26 percent.
LTCs are believed to be associated with 175 of 218 total local deaths, or 80 percent.
About half of the 56 LTCs in Camden County (27) have experienced at least one case of COVID-19.
On Friday, the county requested a New Jersey Department of Health monitor for five local LTCs: Genesis Voorhees Center and Lions Gate in Voorhees, Avista Healthcare and Premier Cadbury in Cherry Hill, and Collingswood United Methodist Home.
Collectively, those five sites are associated with 421 COVID-19 patients and 85 deaths.
“We are continuing to fight this virus with every weapon at our disposal,” said Freeholder-Director Lou Cappelli in a statement.
“The simple truth is that while this period of staying at home has worn on us all, we must continue to be serious about our social distancing efforts,” Cappelli said. “This virus has not been eradicated; it has not been stopped.”
Another 140 Camden County residents have also tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the local total to 3,890 cases.
The newest local cases are:
- a Barrington woman in her 60s
- three Bellmawr men, two in their 20s, and one in his 40s; and two women, one each in her 20s and 40s
- a Berlin Township man in his 50s
- 29 Camden City women, eight in their 30s, seven in their 40s, six in their 50s, three in their 60s, two each in their 20s and 70s, and a teenaged girl; and 26 men, nine each in their 30s and 40s, four in their 50s, two in their 20s, one in his 60s, and a teenaged boy
- 10 Cherry Hill women, six in their 80s, three in their 70s, and one in her 40s; and four men, one each in his 20s, 40s, 60s, and 70s
- a Clementon woman of unknown age
- a Collingswood woman in her 50s
- three Gloucester City women, one each in her 20s, 30s, and 60s; and three men, two in their 30s and one in his 50s
- three Gloucester Township women, one each in her 20s, 30s and 60s; and two men, one each in his 50s and 70s
- a Haddon Township woman in her 70s
- nine Lindenwold women, three in their 40s, two in their 20s, one each in her 30s and 80s, and two teenage girls; and five men, two in their 40s, one each in his 20s and 70s, and a teenaged boy
- a Magnolia woman in her 30s
- two Merchantville men, one each in his 30s and 50s
- an Oaklyn man in his 30s
- seven Pennsauken Township women, four in their 30s, one each in her 40s and 60s, and one of unknown age; and five men, two in their 20s, and one each in his 40s, 60s, and 70s
- two Pine Hill men, one each in his 30s and 80s; and a woman in her 30s
- two Runnemede men in their 50s
- a Stratford man in his 50s, and woman in her 80s
- three Voorhees men, two in their 50s and one in his 70s; and two women, one each in her 20s and 70s
- a Waterford Township man in his 60s
- three Winslow Township men, one each in his 20s, 40s, and 50s; and three women, one each in her 30s, 60s, and 70s
- a Woodlynne woman in her 40s
The Camden County and New Jersey Health Departments are working to facilitate trace investigations into all cases.
