The number of East Windsor Township and Hightstown Borough residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 is continuing to rise, according to results compiled by Mercer County officials.
In East Windsor, 258 residents have tested positive, while in Hightstown there were 53 residents who tested positive as of April 14, officials said.
They are among the 2,037 Mercer County residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 as of April 16, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. Mercer County has a population of approximately 367,000 people.
Of the 87 Mercer County residents who have died of COVID-19 through April 16, it is not known whether any of the victims lived in East Windsor or Hightstown.
The number of new cases of COVID-19 has ranged from five to 17 per day from April 1-14 in East Windsor, and from as few as one new case to as many as four new cases per day in Hightstown.
Municipal data lags behind state data.
The growing number of residents whose test for COVID-19 is positive is not unexpected, Mercer County officials said. As more testing sites open, the number of infected persons will increase.
There are two testing sites in Mercer County: one site at the Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrence Township, and another at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell on Scotch Road in Hopewell Township.
Mercer County opened its appointment-only, drive-through testing site March 31 in a parking lot at the Quaker Bridge Mall. The testing site is a collaborative effort between Mercer County and several Mercer County hospitals.
The testing is restricted to Mercer County residents who have shown symptoms of COVID-19 and who have a prescription for the test. The turnaround time for test results is 48 to 72 hours.
Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell has set up trailers outside the hospital to evaluate and identify those who are infected with COVID-19. Persons should contact their physician to make sure they meet the criteria for testing.
The trailers operate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. A call ahead is advised. The telephone number is 609-303-4000.