First death from COVID-19 in town confirmed by Princeton Health Department

The Princeton Health Department (PHD) announced the town’s first confirmed death from COVID-19 in a statement from the municipality released on Thursday.

The deceased was a woman over the age of 90. According to the PHD statement, she may have acquired the disease from contact with a home health aide, and the department is actively investigating the health aide’s contacts.

University Deputy Spokesperson Mike Hotchkiss did not respond to request for comment in time for publication as to whether the patient had any affiliation with the University.

The woman was one of 32 total confirmed COVID-19 cases in Princeton. PHD is currently monitoring 20 active cases of people in self-isolation, and 11 patients have recovered.

The patient’s death is the fourth confirmed coronavirus-related death in Mercer County.

In an email to The Daily Princetonian, Frederick Williams, a representative for the municipality, explained that, due to HIPAA regulations, the patient’s gender and age are all the identifying information that will be released.

“Princeton extends our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the patient, as well as all who have been affected by this outbreak,” read the original press release.

In another statement on April 2, PHD announced that a per-diem member of the Princeton First Aid Squad tested positive for coronavirus.

According to the statement, the member first began to exhibit symptoms on March 26 and immediately began to self-isolate. The member is not hospitalized and their symptoms have subsided.

PHD also stated they continued to strongly recommend that all town residents, workers, students, and visitors “take necessary precautions to protect themselves” against COVID-19.

The Daily Princetonian continues to monitor the rising number of COVID-19 cases affiliated with the University, in Princeton, and in New Jersey.