Covid-19 Information

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About Coronavirus / Covid-19

What is coronavirus?

  • Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. The estimated to cause about a third of all cases of the common cold.
  • The most common forms can cause mild to moderate illness in people, while other forms circulate among animals, including camels, cats and bats.

What is COVID-19?

  • COVID-19 is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus that has not been found in people before.
  • COVID-19 is not caused by the same coronavirus that caused Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012. However, it is in the same family of viruses.
  • Because this is a new virus, there are still things we do not know, such as how severe the illness can be, how it is transmitted between people, and other specifics of the virus. More information will be provided when it is available.

What was the source of this outbreak?

  • Public health officials and partners are working hard to identify the source of the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • Early on, many of the patients in the outbreak in Wuhan, China, reportedly had some link to a large seafood and animal market, suggesting the virus likely emerged from an animal source.
  • SARS, another coronavirus that emerged, came from civet cats, while MERS, another coronavirus that emerged to infect people, came from camels. Officials are trying to determine if something similar happened with COVID-19.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

According to CDC, patients with confirmed COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Based on other corona viruses, the CDC believes that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure.

Symptoms are similar to other respiratory illnesses that are circulating, such as influenza, so experiencing these symptoms alone does not necessarily mean you need to be tested for COVID-19. Additional criteria will help your health care provider decide if you should be tested, such as:

  • If you have history of recent travel (within past 14 days) from an affected geographic area. Affected geographic areas currently include China, Iran, Italy, Japan, and South Korea (continue to check CDC Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information for Travel for updated affected geographic areas).
  • If you had close contact with any confirmed person within the past 2 days of symptom onset.
  • If you are hospitalized acute respiratory illness or pneumonia without another explanation (e.g., influenza)

 

How does COVID-19 spread?

This virus is thought to have emerged from an animal source but is now able to spread from person-to-person.

  • It’s important to note that person-to-person spread can happen on a continuum. Some viruses are highly contagious (like measles), while other viruses are less so. It’s not clear yet how easily COVID-19 spreads from person-to-person.
  • Patients who have been identified with COVID-19 in the United States have traveled to an area in China where the virus is circulating or have had contact with a known case.

Take the same precautions recommended for avoiding colds and flu:

  • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough.

Covid-19 Testing

If you are a Salem County Resident and would like to be tested for COVID-19, you can schedule an appointment to be tested at the Penns Grove, Pilesgrove, or Salem Rite Aid locations, the Riverside Urgent Care in Pennsville, one of Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers testing sites in Salem and Pittsgrove, or Salem Medical Center.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Vaccine Safety

Vaccine safety is the top priority for public health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted both Pfizer’s and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines Emergency Use Authorization. This means that both vaccines were reviewed by the FDA and that the vaccines met their criteria for safety and effectiveness.

For more information on this process please visit: https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines/emergency-use-authorization-vaccines-explained

Both Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines are for adults 18 years of age and older. Pregnant women, and those that are currently breastfeeding are advised to contact their physician prior to receiving the vaccine. If you have any questions or concerns if this vaccine is right for you, contact your primary care physician.

Phases of Vaccine Distribution

The COVID-19 vaccine is set to be distributed in Phases determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). New Jersey’s phases are as follows:

  • Phase 1A: Healthcare Workers & Long-Term Care residents
  • Phase 1B: Frontline Essential Workers and adults 75+ years of age
  • Phase 1C: Adults 65+ years of age & adults with high-risk medical conditions
  • Phase 2: General Population

New Jersey has sent initial shipments of Pfizer vaccine to hospitals in order to begin vaccinating Phase 1A.

For more information on New Jersey’s phased distribution plan please visit: https://nj.gov/health/legal/covid19/NJ%20Interim%20COVID-19%20Vaccination%20Plan%20-%20Revised%2012-15-20.pdf

Additional Resources

Executive Orders from the Office of Governor Murphy

Materials and Resources

General Information from the CDC

Information for Individuals & Families

Pregnant Women

Children

Seniors

Disabled Individuals

Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19

Health Professionals

Extended Care Facilities and Systems

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

Law Enforcement Personnel

Child Care/Schools

Colleges and Universities

Adult Care Services

Businesses and Workplaces

Agricultural Resources

Resources for Agricultural Businesses and Workers

COVID-19 Produce Farm Resources

COVID-19 Dairy Farm Resources

Transporting Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

National Center for Farmworker Health

Food Industry Resources for Coronavirus

Ships / Ports

Substance Abuse Resources

Recovery Meetings Online

Substance Abuse Hotlines

  • NJ Peer Recovery (Peer support line available 7 days a week) – 833-422-2765  – https://njpeerrecovery.com
  • Substance Abuse Treatment (24/7 Access to treatment for a drug or alcohol problem) – 844-276-2777

Mental Health Resources

  • NJ Mental Health Cares – 866-202-HELP (4357)
    View video in English – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvcncw9eZJcView video in Spanish –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lyVsf0mI2g
  • SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline – Call 800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 for 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling
  • Youth Crisis Hotline -Youth ages 10 to 24 can call or text 888-222-2228 to discuss any crisis confidentially.
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish – 800-273-8255
  • Veteran’s Crisis Line -talk, online chat, or text 800-273-TALK or visit www.veteranscrisisline.net

Travel

Spanish Versions of PDFs

Additional Information

If you are currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and feel that you need medical attention, please take the following steps:

  • For Mild Symptoms: CALL AHEAD before visiting your primary care physician and advise them of your symptoms, recent travel, and/or close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19. They will advise you on next steps for being seen for evaluation of your symptoms.
  • For Severe Symptoms: CALL AHEAD before visiting your local emergency room and advise them of your symptoms, recent travel, and/or close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19. They will advise you on next steps for being seen for evaluation of your symptoms.

If you are currently experiencing symptoms of COVID- 19 and/or are waiting for the results of your COVID-19 test please take the following steps to prevent further spread:

  • Stay home except to get medical care
  • Stay separated from other people and animals
  • Continue to monitor your symptoms
  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Clean your hands with an alcohol based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Cover coughs and sneezes
  • If you MUST enter a public space, wear a mask or face covering
  • Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day

Contact Us

Salem County Health Dept.
110 Fifth Street • Suite 500
Salem, NJ 08079

856.935.7510 (Phone)
856.935.8483 (Fax)
Report An Immediately Reportable Disease: 856-935-7510 ext. 8302

After Hours Contact

856.769.1955

Have Concerns?

Report a Public Health Concern

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LEARN THE FACTS ABOUT CORONAVIRUS COVID-19

Live help on COVID-19 information is available. Speak to as healthcare professional at 1-800-222-1222 or 1-800-962-1253. For general information, testing & basic needs, dial 211 or text your zip code to 898-211. For alerts/updates, text NJCOVID to 898-211

♦ For more information on COVID-19 please visit https://covid19.nj.gov.
♦ For daily updates on positive COVID-19 cases in Salem County, please visit https://www.facebook.com/SalemCountyHealth
♦ NJDOH COVID-19 Weekly Activity Level- https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/statistics/covid.

Salem County COVID-19 Cases

January 19, 2021

Positives- 3,592
Negatives- 14,912
Deaths- 116
Recovered- 2,253

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