By Claire Drewniak
In a week of collective breath-holding over election results, the coronavirus also continued to stir anxiety.
Morristown has registered 20 new cases since Monday Nov. 2, 2020, reaching a total of 722. This follows the trend statewide, and across the country, as infections continue to rise.
More than 128,000 new cases were reported nationally on Friday, the third straight record-setting day, while COVID fatalities topped 1,000 for the fourth consecutive day, according to the Washington Post.
And as former Vice President Joe Biden inched closer to winning the presidency, news outlets reported Friday night that White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has become the latest member of President Donald Trump’s inner circle to test positive for COVID-19.
The U.S. is facing its most dramatic increases in cases since April, when 2,000 people were dying each day.
In a briefing on Thursday, Gov. Phil Murphy said 6,408 cases were recorded over the last three days in New Jersey, with 2,104 new cases overnight, and 247,219 cases since March 4.
The statewide rate of transmission stands at 1.26; anything over 1.0 indicates the virus is spreading.
While the Morris School District serving Greater Morristown has shut down in-school instruction at several schools this fall after individuals tested positive, Murphy shared a bit of good news: Morris County has found no cases of in-school transmission.
In a video message this week, Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty reminded residents to keep up their guard.
“Continue to practice all the things we need to do: Wear a mask, hygiene, wash your hands often, and keep social distancing when appropriate,” Dougherty said.
Kevin Coughlin contributed to this report.
