A fifth Princeton resident has been confirmed to have contracted COVID-19, Princeton Health Officer Jeffrey Grosser said March 19.
The individual is a close contact of a guest at a Feb. 29 party in Princeton, Grosser said. The infected individual had been advised of the exposure and was in self-quarantine before developing symptoms.
Between March 13 and March 15, four people – including two Princeton University staffers – had been confirmed by the Princeton Health Department to have the coronavirus.
The common tie among the four individuals is their attendance at the Feb. 29 party, Grosser said. They were among 47 guests at the party.
Two Massachusetts residents also attended the Feb. 29 party and tested positive for coronavirus after they returned home, Grosser said. They had earlier attended the Biogen conference in Boston, which has been linked to the spread of coronavirus.
Princeton Health Department officials are urging Princeton residents to practice social distancing, which means keeping at least six feet between themselves and another person in public places.
Residents are urged to avoid non-essential travel, public events, community gatherings and indoor venues. They should also avoid close contact, such as handshakes or hugs.
The COVID-19 is spread by respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how the flu and other respiratory diseases are spread.
People can become infected when they touch surfaces that have been contaminated by an infected person, and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth.
