On September 22, 2020, the death toll in the US from COVID-19 officially hit 200,000.

It has been almost a year since the first case was confirmed on January 20, 2020, and now the virus has taken the lives of 200,000 US citizens.  Numbers have been slowing down since earlier in the summer, but a projected spike this winter does bode well for Americans.

Here in New Jersey, there has been a total 16,076 deaths, and over 200,000 cases in total  Bergen County has been the largest contributor to this count, with 22,494 cases and 2,044 deaths.

Hillsborough High School student Aastha Patel commented on the recent statistic milestone.

“It’s so upsetting that the number has risen so much in the past months, and most importantly, I wish a fast recovery to those who have tested positive” Patel said.

In Somerset County, a total of 5,783 cases have been reported, with 569 deaths. The department of Health for Somerset County is constantly providing updates and staying on top of things; for more information on updates and what is exactly going on in the county Hillsborough resides in, click here for the county website.

COVID-19 is still a major concern and it is important to remember to wear a mask around others, even if symptoms are not present.  It can take anywhere from 2-14 days after contact with the virus for the symptoms to settle in.  Please go about your day with extreme caution and educate yourself on the risks of the coronavirus.