Cape May, NJ – While some parts of the country see COVID-19 cases level off, Cape May County’s numbers are climbing.
Two hundred people in the county are now confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus. Thirteen have died.
More Nursing Home Cases
Nine of those deaths were patients from the Victoria Manor nursing home in Lower Township.
According to the county, the 120-bed facility has become a hot spot for COVID-19. The long-term care and rehabilitation center, set on a wooded campus not far from the Cape May Canal, joins a long list of facilities under attack by the contagious virus.
The New York Times reports coronavirus infections have broken out in almost two-thirds of New Jersey’s long-term care homes.
Other Local Elderly Centers With Infections
On its COVID-19 website, the State of New Jersey says four Cape May County long-term care facilities have reported coronavirus cases. The facilities, aside from Victoria Manor, have not been named.
Younger Workers
The virus is affecting not just the elderly residents at the nursing homes. Genesis HealthCare, the owner of Victoria Manor, says a total of 52 people at the North Cape May home have contracted the virus so far. Half of those – 27 – are patients. The rest – 25 – are younger staff members who live elsewhere.
Two-thirds of all county residents diagnosed with COVID-19 are under age 65. But the county says those over 65 are more likely to be hospitalized for the illness.
As of Friday, local coronavirus cases have not yet hit a plateau.
Here are the cases by town:
| April 17 | |||
| Avalon | 6 | Sea Isle City | 2 |
| Cape May City | 4 | Stone Harbor | 0 |
| Cape May Point | 0 | Upper Twp | 20 |
| Dennis Twp | 10 | West Cape May | 1 |
| Lower Twp | 71 | West Wildwood | 1 |
| Middle Twp | 42 | Wildwood | 14 |
| North Wildwood | 4 | Wildwood Crest | 8 |
| Ocean City | 15 | Woodbine | 2 |
