We’ve had questions about the Township’s reporting of confirmed COVID-19 cases, so in our sincere effort to keep residents informed and still respect personal, confidential information, we want to explain.
Early in the Pandemic, the Township received information on confirmed cases and fatalities daily and it was published in the Township’s special newsletter sent every weekday. The newsletter switched to three times a week mid-summer and is now weekly. However, the COVID-19 updates are posted on the Township’s Facebook page Monday and Friday, unless there is a holiday or Township doesn’t get a report.
Q. Where does Township get information from?
A. The Township is part of the Bloomfield Health Department shared services group that provides data about confirmed positive cases in Cranford, Union County, and New Jersey.
Q. Why do some other towns provide ages and other information about positive cases? Why is Cranford refusing?
A. Reporting from Health Departments in the State vary, with some providing more and some less information, but all following privacy and HIPAA laws. Cranford is not refusing to keep residents informed. We have been diligent and as open as possible about providing information. Cases in Cranford schools are also reported directly to parents with an indication of whether it involved the high school or elementary schools.
Q. Why do numbers of cases seem to change?
A. Occasionally, further investigation will reveal that a positive case or death is someone who does or does not live in Cranford and stats are adjusted. That’s why simply adding cases from one newsletter or post to another may not always add up.
Q. Why doesn’t the Township report number of active cases and number of people in the hospital or on ventilators?
A. Since late August we have been including the number of active cases. The Township does not get information about hospitalizations or ventilator use specific to Cranford. Statewide information is available on the NJ Dashboard.
We hope this information is useful.
