Three elderly Hammonton women with pre-existing health conditions have become the latest Atlantic County fatalities related to COVID-19, county health officials confirmed.
The deaths of the 87-year-old, 90-year-old and 92-year-old women were reported Tuesday, along with 52 additional county residents who have tested positive for the coronavirus and 10 more who have been cleared as recovered.
These confirmations bring the total number of cases in the county to 479, with 22 deaths and 81 recoveries, according to a county press release.
County health officials attributed the increase in positive cases to an increase in testing.
Of the 52 new positives, 24 were men, ages 17-87, while 28 were women, ages 26-88.
Eleven residents tested positive in Hammonton, eight in Egg Harbor Township and six in Galloway Township. Atlantic City, Hamilton Township and Pleasantville each had five new cases, while Linwood had three. Brigantine, Buena, Estell Manor, Folsom, Northfield and Port Republic each had one new positive.
Since April 9, Atlantic County has provided drive-thru testing on four occasions and will offer testing again 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 23, behind the Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing.
The county originally obtained 600 test kits and plans to secure another 200 for additional testing next week for symptomatic, county residents with a doctor’s prescription.
Residents may make an appointment online at www.aclink.org. In addition to the doctor’s prescription, residents must also provide proof of residency, such as a driver’s license or utility bill, as well as the appointment confirmation.
Those who are unable to keep their appointments are asked to cancel so that others will have an opportunity to be tested.
