TOMS RIVER, NJ – For most of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a concentration of positive cases in Lakewood, but as the second wave of the virus is upon us, Toms River is now the town in the county with the most cases. Over the past 7 days, 2,066 new cases were reported with 316 in Toms River, 269 in Brick Township, 240 in Lakewood, and 200 in Jackson Township. The county exploded in the past 7 days with a record number of new cases and a record weekly high of 27 deaths reported from COVID-19. Today’s figures are for the full week following Thanksgiving last Thursday.
The high number of cases in Toms River had forced the township to perform a virtual Christmas tree lighting ceremony but did not stop Mayor Maurice Hill from continuing to issue “great job” certificates to township employees. Hill has not made any public comment regarding his town being the leader in COVID-19 cases in the week since Thankgiving.