At least 11 children test positive for COVID after attending Jersey Shore teen parties

Eleven attendees at teen parties on Long Beach Island have tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said.

The Long Beach Island health department said on Tuesday that local emergency care informed them over the weekend of a “significant increase in tests and positive results from teens who referred to parties for adolescents the previous week “.

Several parents also called the health department to inform them that their children had contracted the virus.

The first case of the outbreak was reported to the health department on July 19, involving a teenager who attended events in Beach Haven on July 11 and 13. Then, on July 26th, the health service learned of the existence of a second positive case resulting from an event.

On Monday, the health department learned of two more bright spots – one of the teens attended a teen party on July 25, the other on July 27.

Anyone who has been to a teenage party on Long Beach Island in the past two weeks is welcome to get tested, starting five days after the rally.

“We would advise parents and teens that events that bring teens together in large numbers and in social atmospheres pose a significant risk of transmitting COVID-19,” LBI’s health department said. “Unlike more structured and regulated organizations that welcome young people, teen parties often do not require medical screening, vaccination status, social distancing, masking or negative COVID-19 tests.”

A total of 31 people tested positive for COVID-19 on LBI in July, the Department of Health said. One had to be hospitalized.

The health department reported six cases in May and six in June after disclosing 57 in April and 114 in March, the data showed.

The health department could not be reached early Thursday for more information.

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Jeff Goldman can be reached at [email protected].