The Cape May County Health Department (CMCHD) confirmed that 15 residents and 11 staff members at Victoria Manor, 3809 Bayshore Road, North Cape May, tested positive for COVID-19.
No deaths have been reported in connection with the outbreak as of Monday morning.
"Public Health has been preparing for the possibility of outbreaks happening in skilled nursing facilities and other congregate care settings, and we have provided clear guidance for facilities in responding and controlling the spread of illness," Cape May County Assistant Director of Public Health Nursing Mary Tighe said.
She added, "We, in conjunction with the New Jersey Department of Health, are working closely with the facilities now to protect residents and staff."
CMCHD began investigating immediately upon notification of ill staff and residents within the facility. Ill staff and residents began being tested, with some coming back positive.
In response to these positive tests, the CMCDH assisted in delivering 400 surgical masks and 200 gowns, according to a county press release.
Staff and residents who do not have serious symptoms are monitored and medically isolated, but not hospitalized.
The facility continues to follow all Centers for Disease Control guidelines for disease outbreaks in long-term health care facilities including deep cleaning on a regular basis.
Victoria Manor is a skilled nursing facility with 120 beds. The facility is following all health recommendations to prevent further spread of the virus.
"The situation is very serious, and we are deeply concerned about residents of our senior care facilities in Cape May County," County Health Officer Kevin Thomas said.
He continued, "That is why we need everyone to follow the stay-at-home order, social distancing guidance and other measures in recent health orders – to protect the people in our community who are vulnerable to severe illness from COVID-19."
In addition, there has been one confirmed death in Cape May County and a total of 99 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection countywide.
Following is a breakdown of confirmed coronavirus cases for each municipality in Cape May County:
| MUNICIPALITY |
ACTIVE CASES |
OFF QUARANTINE |
DEATHS |
|
|
|
|
| AVALON |
4 |
2 |
|
| CAPE MAY CITY |
1 |
2 |
|
| CAPE MAY POINT |
0 |
|
|
| DENNIS TOWNSHIP |
5 |
|
|
| LOWER TOWNSHIP |
33 |
3 |
|
| MIDDLE TOWNSHIP |
15 |
3 |
|
| NORTH WILDWOOD |
2 |
1 |
|
| OCEAN CITY |
5 |
1 |
|
| SEA ISLE CITY |
0 |
1 |
|
| STONE HARBOR |
0 |
|
|
| UPPER TOWNSHIP |
6 |
1 |
1 |
| WEST CAPE MAY |
1 |
|
|
| WEST WILDWOOD |
1 |
|
|
| WILDWOOD |
5 |
1 |
|
| WILDWOOD CREST |
5 |
|
|
| WOODBINE |
0 |
|
|
| TOTAL ACTIVE |
83 |
|
|
| TOTAL RECOVERED |
|
15 |
|
| TOTAL DECEASED |
|
|
1 |
| TOTAL CASES IN CAPE MAY COUNTY |
99 |
|
|
For more information, call the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System hotline at 211 or 1-800-962-1253, or visit 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
COVID19.nj.gov.
For additional information visit the Cape May County Department of Health at
www.cmchealth.net or on Facebook.
