Cranford Schools To Go Remote For 2 Weeks After Thanksgiving

CRANFORD, NJ — Following the lead of some other North Jersey districts, Cranford's superintendent of schools announced Friday afternoon that the district will transition to full remote learning after Thanksgiving weekend, from Nov. 30 through Friday, Dec. 11.

The district will go back to hybrid instruction Dec. 14 "assuming the circumstances at that time support a return."

Superintendent Scott Rubin added that the New Jersey Department of Health released the latest COVID-19 Activity Level Report on Thursday, saying that the COVID-19 activity level for the Central East region, which Cranford is a part of, is high overall.

"The New Jersey DOH recommends that school districts consider moving to fully remote learning when the regional status changes to high risk," he wrote.

He also said the increase in travel and gatherings could increase transmission of the virus.

The governor has recommended that people quarantine for 14 days after returning from 46 states.

He said, "Please know how much we value in-person education. Cranford is one of the few school districts that developed a plan where elementary school students can attend school every day."

Rubin warned, "Whether schools can resume the hybrid in-person model in a sustainable way is partly dependent on the choices we all make as a community when we are away from school. I certainly understand and appreciate the desire for family and friends to want to get together over the holiday weekend, especially given the length of the pandemic. However, we must do so safely, responsibly, and in accordance with current guidelines."

Principals will reach out with guidelines.

Cases and closures in the past

On Wednesday, the town reported the 99th death of a resident due to the virus.

Cranford High School went temporarily remote on Wednesday because an individual (student or staff member) has tested positive at the school. But Wednesday morning, Rubin said the school could reopen Thursday for a regular schedule. Read more here.

Two other Cranford schools went remote for 14 days, and one resumed classes Thursday.

There have also been several cases of individuals associated with a school testing positive while school was remote, so it was assumed the person did not have close contacts.

The number of active cases in town is now 50 and the cumulative count of cases since March is 648, the town reported Wednesday.

Read stories about past coronavirus cases in the Cranford schools here.

Last weekend, the state of New Jersey said it had confirmed the highest number of new cases since in April. On Sunday, the State of New Jersey reported 18 new fatalities since the day before, and a record high of 4,540 new cases, following 4,395 positive cases on Saturday. Before that, the highest one-day total was 4,391 on April 17.

Doctors have said that a number of factors are contributing to the drop in the death rate since spring, including people getting test results (and thus treatment) sooner, more protective equipment available in hospitals, and doctors becoming better able to treat the virus. However, the virus still can have long-term effects.

Other updates

HOW TO GET TESTED

• Union County has added mobile walk up test sites in addition to the testing site located at Kean University. Testing is free for Union County residents and is by appointment only with no car required; participants must wear masks and observe social distance. Any Union County resident can make an appointment for a test, whether they have symptoms. To pick a location, date and time, and to make an appointment online, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update/walk-up.
• Union County residents who need to make an appointment by phone can call 908-518-4307 for assistance. Non-profit organizations and other community groups can call the Union County Office of Emergency Management at 908-654-9881 to request a visit from the Mobile Test Unit.

• To find out more, you can also contact your doctor, visit covid19.nj.gov/testing, or call 211.

NATIONAL TRENDS

• More than 900 health care workers have died of the virus nationally. Others are simultaneously fighting misinformation and hoaxes as they try to fight the virus.

HOW TO GET HELP WITH HEAT, RENT, AND MORE

• During the State of Emergency in New Jersey, no tenant is permitted to be evicted from their home or apartment for the inability to pay rent. Talk to your local mayor's office if you are experiencing difficulties.
• The CARES act has made money available to help with rent in each city. More information is here.
• New Jersey residents can get help with heating and energy bills. Information is here.
• Various other avenues of relief and benefits have also been made available, including family leave for 12 weeks if you can't work due to your child's school or camp being closed, and changes to unemployment rules to help those who were at a job for a short time, or freelancing.

LONG-TERM CARE

• Recently, there were 159 long term care facilities with active outbreaks, the state Department of Health said last month. The state announced that deaths at the facilities had more than doubled since May 1.
• New Jersey residents became alarmed at the high number of residents who have passed away in nursing homes, rehabs, and similar facilities. The state announced plans in May to increase testing at some long term care facilities.
• The state released death toll statistics in spring for long-term care facilities like rehabs and nursing homes. See the list here.
• You can report problems with long term care facilities here, or if you suspect coronavirus related misconduct, here.
• Some New Jersey long-term care facilities reopened for limited visits, with precautions, in July.

Here are statewide coronavirus resources:

• NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/
• General COVID-19 questions: 2-1-1
• NJ COVID-19 hotline: (800) 222-1222

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