The Cape May County Department of Health announced Thursday that there has been a second positive test result in Cape May County for coronavirus. The person is a 32-year-old male from Cape May County and is currently isolated at home and recovering.
The health department is managing the investigation into people in the community who may have been exposed to the virus.
Anyone determined to have been in close contact with the patient has been identified and is being notified. County health officials recommend that those people should self-quarantine for 14 days after the day they were potentially exposed.
On Wednesday, Cape May County reported its first case of COVID-19. A 30-year-old man from New York City tested positive at a local healthcare facility for coronavirus while visiting Cape May County.
According to a county press release, the man was not tested in a hospital but another healthcare facility. The case is considered a “low impact” one, meaning the man came into contact with only a few people. They were contacted by health officials, who advised them to self-quarantine.
County officials have been urging out-of-state visitors to stay home and not to travel to Cape May County during the outbreak. They say now is not the time to travel, but to remain vigilant in following recommendations for social distancing and isolation.
In a related development, Cape May County government is taking the next steps to ensure the safety of its workers and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cape May County Freeholder Director Gerald M. Thornton has enacted a plan to reduce staffing across various departments and close other departments completely, effective the close of business on Thursday.
All county employees are deemed essential personnel, but this plan is focused on the essential tasks of county government that must be performed. Departments that provide critical services will remain open. Department heads and key staff that can work from home will be asked to do so when they are not in the office.
“This is the next step we have to take to flatten the curve,” Thornton said in a statement. “We have tried to pare down our staff to keep as many people home as we can. There are a number of tasks that must be performed by County government and we will ensure those continue.”
The county had already sent home workers who are responsible for school-aged children after the mandated school closure across the county on Tuesday. Also, all employees that were advised to stay home by a doctor due to potential exposure with COVID-19 have also been kept home.
“Our staff has stepped up, like they always do, in the wake of this outbreak,” Thornton said. “We will continue to provide those vital services like Health Department services, Meals on Wheels, Central Dispatch, and more during this time. But it is time to keep more employees home, which will help the social distancing for those who must come into work.”
In the meantime, the Health Department is reminding the public of basic preventative actions that should be followed during the pandemic. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, please be sure that you:
- Practice handwashing regularly for at least 20 seconds
- Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
- Stay home when you are sick, and avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Keep a distance of at least 6 feet with people who are coughing or sneezing
- Avoid unnecessary physical contact, such as handshaking
- Avoid unnecessary travel, attending crowded events and social gatherings
- Consider replacing in-person gatherings with video chatting, voice messaging and phone calls.
Please note that testing is only available for individuals who are sick. Symptoms include a fever of more than 100.4, coughing, and shortness of breath. The Health Department does not test for COVID-19.Testing can be done through medical providers. Contact your healthcare provider to see if you are eligible for testing.
Stay up to date on the current situation as it evolves. Some reliable sources are the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System hotline at 1-800-222-1222, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov, the World Health Organization at www.who.int and the New Jersey Department of Health at www.nj.gov/health.
For additional information, visit Cape May County Department of Health at www.cmchealth.net.
