Breakthrough infections make up the majority of new confirmed COVID-19 cases in Princeton

Over the past five weeks, A total of 57 new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Princeton. More than two-thirds of those cases were breakthrough infections.

A total of 39 cases since July 8 were breakthrough infections, or 68.4 percent of all infections, according to the local health department. Only 31.6 percent of the new confirmed COVID-19 cases were in unvaccinated people.

There have been 14 new positive COVID-19 cases in Princeton in the past seven days, and 35 new cases total over the past 14 days.

In Mercer County, COVID-19 cases have increased recently and are very high. The number of hospitalized Covid patients has also risen in the Mercer County area. Deaths have remained at about the same level. An average of 59 cases per day were reported in Mercer County as of Aug. 19, a 118 percent increase from the average two weeks ago. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 10 residents in Mercer County have been infected with COVID-19, with a total of 35,478 confirmed cases.

Almost 80 percent of Princeton residents are vaccinated. It is possible to get COVID-19 if you are vaccinated, but the vaccines provide strong protection against serious illness and death. Fully vaccinated people who become infected with the Delta variant also can spread the virus to others.

To protect yourself and others, wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high COVID-19 transmission risk like Mercer County, get tested for the virus if you have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, wear a mask in public indoor settings for two weeks after you’ve been exposed to the virus, and isolate for 10 days if you test positive or are experiencing symptoms.

Booster shots for people who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines will be offered to the general public beginning in late September.

7 Comments

  1. Where is this information coming from? I tried to find the source but can’t, and the article doesn’t identify it.

  2. Hmmmm, they must not have publicized it themselves. The bit about the breakthrough infection rate is alarming, but the CDC isn’t collecting that data any more in non-hospitalized cases. So I’m wondering how they know that.

  3. I’m curious but have not done the math.

    Given A. the vaccination rate of the local community and B. the rate that breakthrough infections occur in the broader population, is C. the rate of infection of vaccinated members of the local community above or below expectations?

  4. Here’s some data from the Princeton Gov website:
    Vaccination Status of Princeton Residents As of 8/12/2021*

    All ages (12 and over): 77%
    18 and over: 77%
    65 and over: 95%
    *Data available on the NJCOVID Dashboard

    We’re going to keep seeing reports like this as a large percentage of the population is vaccinated. Unfortunately, it’s giving people the wrong impression that the vaccines aren’t working. Look at the Provincetown outbreak where almost all the infected were vaccinated – it’s because pretty much everybody was vaccinated. You’re asking the right questions however.
    Vaccinated people are also getting infected more now because too many of the vaccinated are acting like everything is normal and we’re invincible. The fact is, if you are hit with a high enough viral load, even vaccinated, you’re going to get infected. But now you likely won’t get hit that hard. Hit an unvaccinated person with that much virus and they’ll end up in the ICU.
    Your question can’t really be answered because there are too many variables. The vast majority of breakthroughs aren’t reported because they’re asymptomatic or minimal. Breakthrough rate is going to depend on behavior (lots of socializing etc.) and population density and so forth.
    But given the high percentage of vaccinated population in Princeton, it’s expected to have a high percentage of the infected being among the vaccinated.

    1. Thanks for commenting. Our story was not posted to cause alarm but to point to a new trend in Princeton and to make people aware that confirmed breakthrough cases are on the rise in Princeton. People should wear masks, practice social distancing, and take precautions to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and the unvaccinated should get vaccinated to help the world combat the variants like Delta. The vaccine is safe and effective and prevents serious illness and death.

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