TOMS RIVER, NJ – A report by the Ocean County Health Department breaks down deaths of COVID-19 patients. So far, 516 people have died in Ocean County since the outbreak officially began. Of those 516, 406, or 79% were over the age of 65 years old. State records also show that 68% of all COVID-19 deaths statewide were reported to have been residents of long term care facilities.
72 people in the age range of 45-64 years old died in Ocean County and 2% were between the ages of 19 and 44. There are no reported deaths of teenagers or children to date. Saturday’s figures released by the Health Department reported just three deaths in the past 24 hours, the lowest daily rate since March 26th. Daily deaths peaked at 24 on April 23rd, so Ocean County is on the low end of the downward side of the curve. Deaths have started to decline as anti-body plasma has become more available to treat the most serious patients. Patients reported to have been on ventilators for two or more weeks have been showing rapid recovery once receiving the plasma treatments.
Countywide, Lakewood Township still leads the county with confirmed cases with 1,971 cases. Toms River is catching up with 1,261. The county reported 101 new cases in on Friday. On April 24th, there were over 260 new cases in just one 24 hour period.
Harvey Cedars and Mantoloking still haven’t had a single confirmed case of COVID-19.