Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Princeton reach highest seven-day and two-week totals since pandemic began
Over the seven-day period from Dec. 10 through Dec. 16, the local health department has received positive COVID-19 PCR test results for 36 residents, the highest number for a one-week period since the pandemic began.
For the past two weeks, the health department has received positive COVID-19 PCR test results for 62 residents, also a record since the pandemic began.
A total of 18 deaths in Princeton have been confirmed to be due to complications from COVID-19, with another 13 deaths considered probable coronavirus-related deaths.
As of Thursday, Dec. 17, the state has received positive COVID-19 PCR test results for 419,330 residents. A total of 16,172 deaths in the state have been confirmed to be due to complications from the virus, while an additional 1,908 deaths are considered probable coronavirus-related deaths.
Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.
To provide a complete picture, it is important to point out that according to the local health department data since August 7 only one person has been hospitalized for COVID and only one person has died in Princeton. The average age of death increased from 84.8 to 87 years.
I was told a couple of weeks ago when I went for cardiac rehab that there were forty covid patients in the Princeton hospital.
But George, what you’re saying contradicts with the article stating that “a total of 18 deaths in Princeton have been confirmed to be due to complications from COVID-19.”
I think George means since Aug. 1 there has only been one death – implying that from his perspective even though a record number of people tested positive over the last two weeks in Princeton, the scenario is much better than in the spring and we shouldn’t be alarmed by the rise in cases because only one person has died since Aug. 1, and the other 17 deaths plus the probable COVID deaths occurred before Aug. 1.
To be more precise, only one new “probable” death has been reported since June 12th, it could have actually happened even earlier. Only one new hospitalization (presumably this includes only residents of Princeton) has been reported since August 7th.
So what, because there hasn’t been a recent death are we supposed to be saying ok, everything is just fine? The virus can have serious long-term health effects, even for younger people. An increase in confirmed positives is not good news regardless of whether it has led to deaths or not. An increase in positives also means an increased risk for the community.
Unless it’s unavoidable, Just don’t swap air with anyone else until you get the vaccine. We don’t “need” social interaction during this time. Please use wisdom and patience and bless the essential workers who are caring for us all.