Cranford High School Goes Remote 2 Weeks Due To Coronavirus

CRANFORD, NJ — Cranford High School will go remote from this Monday through Friday, Feb. 5, said Superintendent Scott Rubin on Sunday night. He said there have been three new cases of coronavirus confirmed in the last four days, including two over the weekend.

"The district, in partnership with the Township Health Office, has already communicated directly with any individuals who have been identified as a close contact and advised those families accordingly," he wrote Sunday.

He explained, "As per the NJ Department of Health, close contact is defined as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from two days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, two days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated. Please be further advised that parents/guardians of any student who have one or more classes with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 have already been notified."

Based on guidance from the Township Health Department, Cranford High School will transition to full remote learning, he said.

The school will resume hybrid instruction on Feb. 8.

Rubin said, "The Health Department based its decision for CHS to temporarily transition to full remote learning on the following: this is the third case within the last four days at CHS, Union County cases are on the rise, and we are in a high zone according to the regional COVID-19 activity level matrix."

He added, "Our purpose in temporarily transitioning is to mitigate any reasonable possibility of spread within the school, which at the present time, we have no evidence of."

All other Cranford schools will continue to operate on their current schedules for now.

"Moving forward, you can assist us by remaining vigilant but sensible in your approach to dealing with this health concern," Rubin wrote, reminding families to observe coronavirus precautions such as mask wearing, social distancing, and hand washing.

Statistics and other Cranford closures

The Cranford Municipal Building and Community Center also closed to the public effective Friday due to COVID-19, announced Mayor Kathleen Miller Prunty on Thursday, due to rising cases.

As reported on Wednesday, Cranford's confirmed case count rose by 44 since Monday, and there are 125 active cases in town. The total population is approximately 24,000.

The total cases in town since the start of the pandemic is 1,072, including residents in long-term care. The death toll remains at 103.

By Thursday, the U.S. death toll due to coronavirus had jumped to 419,000 lives.

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