The amount of positive Covid-19 coronavirus cases in Ocean County has risen to 48 in the latest tally Thursday afternoon by the Ocean County Health Department which includes 26 cases alone in Lakewood Township.

Here are the latest numbers by town across Ocean County:

Barnegat 2 Barnegat Light 0 Bay Head 0 Beach Haven 0 Beachwood 0 Berkeley 2 Brick 1 Eagleswood 0 Harvey Cedars 0 Island Heights 0 Jackson 5 Lacey 0 Lakehurst 0 Lakewood 26 Lavallette 0 Little Egg Harbor 1 Long Beach Township 0 Manchester 3 Mantoloking 0 Ocean Gate 0 Ocean Twp. (Waretown) 0 Pine Beach 0 Plumsted 0 Point Pleasant Beach 0 Point Pleasant Borough 1 Seaside Heights 0 Seaside Park 0 Ship Bottom 0 South Toms River 0 Surf City 1 Stafford 2 Toms River 4 Tuckerton 0

The first case of the coronavirus to reach Ocean County was confirmed in Manchester Township when a 72-year old man contracted the disease.

Manchester Township officials are putting restrictions in place at town hall and government buildings after a 72-year old resident tested positive for the coronavirus last week.

They're also no longer allowing public access to town hall.

The potential exposure of the coronavirus to a Manchester Police Officer and EMT's who responded to a first aid call last week of a man who later tested positive for the disease has led to them being asked to self-quarantine as a precaution.

Mayor Palmer says police have changed some protocols for their own safety.

"For example, the non-emergent reports are now going to be taken by phone," Palmer said. "There will be a police officer designated from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm to take calls and reports over the phone."

COVID-19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, including when an individual coughs or sneezes.

These droplets may land on objects and surfaces.

Other people may contract COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

Ocean County Public Health Coordinator Dan Regenye said that if you experience symptoms such as a fever, dry cough or have difficulty breathing, start by remaining calm, then call your primary care physician, insurance company and even the Ocean County Health Department.

"If they do experience any of these symptoms the major thing is not to panic but to stay informed and contact their health care provider if they have any concerns," Regenye said. "If they're working with us, and we're either self-monitoring or we're working with them to be tested...if their symptoms get worse, we would ask them not to present themselves at the hospital or their physicians office. Work with us and we'll get you to the proper level of care with the proper notice to those establishments so you can get the proper level of treatment that's needed."