Cape May Court House- As of March 28,2020 the Centers for Disease Control urges residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately.  New Jersey currently has 25,590 cases, and 537 deaths. As of April 2, 2020, Cape May County’s total has increased by 16 cases: 79-year-old female, 49-year-old male, 57-year-old female, 72-year-old male, 61-year-old male, 67-year-old male, 63-year-old female, 72-year-old female, 68-year-old male, 62-year-old female, 52-year-old male, 31-year-old female, 70-year-old female, 46-year-old male, 56-year-old female, 58-year-old male, bringing us to a total of 49 cases in the county; 13 individuals have fully recovered from COVID-19 in Cape May County. Testing is ongoing in Cape May County and New Jersey for individuals that are symptomatic and meet certain criteria in accordance to current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidance. For any medical questions please call your healthcare provider or call 211 for any general COVID-19 questions. 

“Cape May County officials urge individuals to stay at their primary residence. Social distancing remains the best prevention against COVID-19. Refraining from non-essential domestic travel can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and help protect those around you, especially those at higher risk of serious complications,” said Kevin Thomas, Health Officer. 

If you do decide to travel, be sure to take steps to help prevent getting and spreading COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases during travel. For the most up-to-date COVID-19 travel information, visit CDC COVID-19 Travel page.

Things to consider before travel according to Centers of Disease Control: 

• Is COVID-19 spreading in the area where you’re going?
  If COVID-19 is spreading at your destination, but not where you live, you may be more likely to get infected if you travel there than if you stay home. If you have questions about your destination, you should check your destination’s local health department website for more information.
• Will you or your travel companion(s) be in close contact with others during your trip?
  Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like coronavirus may increase in crowded settings, particularly closed-in settings with little air circulation. This may include settings such as conferences, public events (like concerts and sporting events), religious gatherings, public spaces (like movie theatres and shopping malls), and public transportation (like buses, metro, trains).
• Are you or your travel companion(s) more likely to get severe illness if you get COVID-19?
  People at higher risk for severe disease are older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions (such as heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes). CDC recommends that travelers at higher risk for COVID-19 complications avoid all cruise travel and nonessential air travel.
• Do you have a plan for taking time off from work or school, in case you are told to stay home for 14 days for self-monitoring or if you get sick with COVID-19?
  If you have close contact with someone with COVID-19 during travel, you may be asked to stay home to self-monitor and avoid contact with others for up to 14 days after travel. If you become sick with COVID-19, you may be unable to go to work or school until you’re considered noninfectious. You will be asked to avoid contact with others (including being in public places) during this period of infectiousness.
• Do you live with someone who is older or has a serious, chronic medical condition?
  If you get sick with COVID-19 upon your return from travel, your household contacts may be at risk of infection. Household contacts who are older adults or persons of any age with severe chronic medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
• Is COVID-19 spreading where I live when I return from travel?
  Consider the risk of passing COVID-19 to others during travel, particularly if you will be in close contact with people who are older adults or have severe chronic health condition These people are at higher risk of getting very sick. If your symptoms are mild or you don’t have a fever, you may not realize you are infectious.

Stay up to date on the current situation as it evolves. Some reliable sources are New Jersey Poison Information and Education System hotline at 211 or 1-800-962-1253, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov, the World Health Organization at www.who.int, the New Jersey Department of Health at COVID19.nj.gov. For additional information visit Cape May County Department of Health at www.cmchealth.net, also like us on Facebook.

For Additional Information:

Contact: Natalie Sendler 

Email: natalie.sendler@co.cape-may.nj.us

Phone:609-465-1201