Summit Coronavirus Updates: Case Statistics, Schools, And More

SUMMIT, NJ — More than three months into New Jersey's self-isolation, the coronavirus death rate has been declining while some other states in the country are seeing a spike. In Summit, the rate of new cases is declining as well.

From Wednesday, June 17, through this past Tuesday, there were only two new cases reported, according to city officials.

Last Wednesday, June 17, a city spokesman noted in a daily update that "The Westfield Regional Health Department has confirmed the 27th fatality associated with the COVID-19 coronavirus in Summit, NJ. The deceased is a resident that had previously been hospitalized."

That day, the number of confirmed cases was 212. This Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases had climbed slightly to 214.

Additional Summit statistics are available here: https://www.cityofsummit.org/coronavirus.

The number of cases in New Jersey rose to 169,734 on Tuesday, and 12,949 people have died. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

But on Tuesday, 57 additional fatalities were reported, an 88 percent drop from April 30, when the daily death rate was 460 (see list of daily number of cases and fatalities going back to March here).

Also Tuesday, 382 new cases were reported, a 91 percent drop from the highest daily number of 4,427 on April 23.

The state has begun to slowly reopen businesses and facilities (Summit restaurants reopened for outdoor dining last week), but Gov. Phil Murphy has said he wants to avoid a spike in cases.

Read more local coronavirus updates about testing and more, below:

SCHOOLS

• August reopening: The Summit school district, which was one of the first in the state to announce it would close for a long period due to the impending pandemic, is currently scheduled to reopen on Monday, Aug. 30. (The decision was made long before the pandemic.) One school official in North Jersey said that the state is choosing among three models for schools to reopen in fall: distance learning, in-person learning, and a blend of both.
• Graduation: Summit High School and the middle school held virtual graduation ceremonies last week. Watch them here.
• Day cares and camps were allowed to reopen, with restrictions, starting June. 15. READ MORE.
• Should special needs schools open back up? A local mom says yes. READ MORE.

TESTING

• The schedule for the Union County drive-through testing center has changed again. For more information, click here.

HOSPITALS

• Overlook Medical Center in Summit discharged its 750th coronavirus patient recently. READ MORE.

BUSINESS/JOBS

• Summit outdoor dining reopened last week. Read more about rules and businesses here.
• Patch has started an ongoing directory of businesses that are open and closed. Check it out or add your business easily by clicking here.

• Murphy allowed businesses such as salons to reopen on June 22, with restrictions. READ MORE.
• Read more about unemployment, small business, and other coronavirus regulations and benefits in New Jersey here.
• Turtleback Zoo has job opportunities in guest relations, paddle boats, Treetop Adventure, parking and maintenance, must be 18 years of age. Please visit the link for a list of available jobs and how to apply: https://buff.ly/2QWodaV

LONG-TERM CARE/NURSING HOMES

• New Jersey residents have become alarmed at the high number of residents who have passed away in nursing homes, rehabs, and similar facilities, and have charged that the facilities are undercounting the numbers and not adequately protecting residents and staff. The state has faced questions for weeks from the press about how they will address the problems.
• There is now a state website with numbers for people at individual nursing homes.
• You can report immediate issues with long term care facilities here, or if you suspect coronavirus related misconduct that should be reported to the Attorney General, here.

GIVING AND GETTING HELP

• To find out about help for the needy and seniors, or get food or food bank information, contact your town via the town website.
• There's an urgent need to donate blood. To give blood on June 15, click here.
• To read about Feed the Front Lines, click here.

Here are additional statewide coronavirus resources:

• NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/
• General COVID-19 questions: 2-1-1
• NJ COVID-19 hotline: (800) 222-1222

Have news or want to reach out? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. To keep up with breaking news in your town and statewide when it happens, and get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts and daily newsletters.