Haddonfield School Board Meetings Remain Virtual Amid COVID Spike

HADDONFIELD, NJ — The Haddonfield Public School District’s Board of Education meetings will remain virtual as the number of coronavirus cases continues to spike in Camden County.

The announcement was made on Tuesday, one day after Gov. Phil Murphy announced that New Jersey is reducing the limits on indoor gatherings from 25 to 10 people beginning Tuesday, and on outdoor gatherings from 500 to 150 people beginning Nov. 23. Read more here: Gov. Murphy: NJ To Lower Gathering Limits Amid Coronavirus Spikes

The district had been hoping to begin inviting a limited number of residents to attend their meetings in person beginning Thursday night.

“Although certain gatherings are exempt from this restriction, the Board has determined it is best to postpone the inclusion of community members until the Governor lifts these restrictions,” the district said in a statement. “While the board will still meet in person, you may join the meeting this week, Thursday, November 19th, via the district's YouTube channel at this link, as provided for the last several meetings.”

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As of Wednesday, 16,218 Camden County residents had tested positive and 588 had died since the beginning of the pandemic.

In Haddonfield, there have been 191 cases and five deaths. This includes 10 new cases that were announced on Wednesday. Read more here: Camden County Coronavirus Cases Spike As Officials Urge Caution

"It is heartbreaking to think of the hundreds of Camden County residents currently fighting this disease, quarantining away from family, or mourning a loved one who was taken during the pandemic. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those suffering the effects of this crisis," Camden County Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said. "We haven't yet seen a corresponding spike in deaths to match the recent surge in cases. If we keep our hospitals from being pushed past their capacity, we can keep the mortality rate low. Doing this means flattening the curve and stopping the transmission of this virus, which we can do by wearing masks, social distancing, and not gathering indoors."