WOODBRIDGE – Woodbridge officials reported 16 new positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of cases in the township to 1,297, according to Mayor John McCormac in his daily report on April 30.
“That’s 72 cases in four days this week, which is a far cry from three days a few weeks ago when we had 77, 80 and 87 so let’s all hope this trend continues,” he said.
The St. Joseph’s Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility positive COVID-19 cases remain at 47. The township is reporting statistics from the nursing home separately.
The residents at St. Joseph’s Nursing Home devastated by COVID-19 were initially counted in the township’s statistics before residents were moved to another facility out of town on March 25. On April 16, residents started moving back home after a massive cleaning effort.
The township has lost 44 residents related to COVID-19 plus an additional 15 from the St. Joseph’s Nursing Home.
“While we are thankful for less people getting infected we should never forget those who have lost their lives because of this terrible disease,” he said. “We must always keep them in our thoughts and prayers.”
More than 80% of residents officials have been able to call from the earliest list of cases have recovered or are in the recovery stage.
The students of Woodbridge High School have started Woodbridge Cares to partner with their colleagues from Colonia High who started the Colonia Cares program. The Colonia Cares group has already raised more than $20,000. All the proceeds are turned into gift cards from local stores and restaurants, which are then donated to local food banks as well as Woodbridge Social Services.
For Woodbridge Cares visit https://www.etsy.com/shop/WoodbridgeCares. For Colonia Cares visit https://www.etsy.com/shop/coloniacares.
“Colonia Cares and Woodbridge Cares are all over the place on television and radio and they are generating publicity not for themselves, but for their efforts which so far have been nothing short of tremendous,” McCormac said. “Thanks to all of you for literally making a difference in people’s lives.”
McCormac said officials have been getting calls about noncompliance with the state’s executive order requiring people working and shopping in stores to wear masks. Officials have been contacting businesses to remind them of their responsibility to follow the order.
The mayor continues to urge neighbors to check on people who live alone and cannot leave their homes and to continue to follow the rules and guidelines for social distancing, good personal hygiene, proper disposal of trash and avoiding non-essential travel.
For more COVID-19 information, visit covid19.nj.gov. Visit www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us for local information.
For Middlesex County information visit discovermiddlesex.com/covid19/ or www.middlsexcountynj.gov/covid19.