Westfield Mayor 'Disheartened' At Comments About Health Officials

WESTFIELD, NJ — Kids at Westfield High School are competitive, and more than 100 of them were disheartened enough by the recent cancellation of school sports — due to coronavirus cases — that they held a march from the high school on Monday. At Tuesday night's Westfield council meeting, Mayor Shelley Brindle, a parent of a high school student herself, said she understood the disappointment, but that she was "disheartened" by public comments made recently about the town's health officials.

"While residents of course may have differences of opinion about these decisions," she said in her opening remarks to the council Tuesday night, "I am disheartened to see some members of the public, across the spectrum, attempting to diminish the vital role that our Health Department plays and the dedication its employees have put forth in the face of unprecedented circumstances."

In Facebook threads about Westfield this week, residents left dozens of comments for and against the cancellation of high school sports, criticizing the schools superintendent and other officials.

Some felt that it just meant the students would spend their time in less safe activities; others said that missing sports was better than getting covid, and one woman pointed out that she had lost her husband to covid in April.

Superintendent Margaret Dolan had announced this past Sunday afternoon that because at least 23 students have tested positive for coronavirus, Westfield High School will remain remote through at least Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 29. In-person extracurricular activities and sports are canceled.

Brindle said Tuesday, before inviting Regional Health Officer Megan Avallone to answer questions at the meeting, "These health professionals have been working tirelessly for nearly eight months managing a pandemic — focused solely on the best interest of the community, while facing increasing levels of resistance to contact tracing cooperation — and I am disturbed and dismayed to see some of the public commentary being directed at them."

She said, "I take my stewardship of this community very seriously, and there is no greater responsibility than the health and safety of our residents. I know that [Superintendent] Dr. Dolan and Regional Health Officer Megan Avallone approach their roles in the same manner, and that every decision is made from a place of protection and responsibility, not one of punitive action or consequence. Megan is an experienced licensed public health officer and a registered nurse, as is much of her staff, and her expertise is relied upon not only in the eight communities serviced by the Westfield Regional Health Department, but also at the state level in her role as the President of the New Jersey Association of County and City Health Officials."

She said, of the Health Department staff, "Some have experienced a personal COVID loss, which only reinforces their desire to ensure that no one else has to."

But she sympathized with students missing milestones.

"I have read their letters and saw yesterday’s demonstration," she said, "and I know how important it is that they feel heard, and are heard. They have demonstrated leadership, strength and maturity ... But it’s important to remember that empathy should be extended to everyone in our community, including the many residents who have reached out to me expressing their concern and anger over the rising number of cases, especially among teens who have been less diligent in following covid protocols."

A week ago, the high school athletic director expressed frustration about some student athletes apparently refusing to quarantine. READ MORE: Westfield Schools Worry That Teens Refuse To Quarantine

What's open, what's closed

Superintendent Dolan's letter on Sunday said other Westfield public schools will remain open as scheduled.

All of the high school's in-person extracurricular activities, including athletics, are now suspended.

Parents had expressed frustration with the canceling of WHS sports when the high school was first closed for two weeks in September.

To see Tuesday's council meeting, click here.

Coronavirus numbers

This past Friday night, Mayor Brindle said that Westfield had confirmed eight new cases among residents in town since her last update a week earlier, but that there were 28 cases under investigation that hadn't been officially confirmed by the state yet. She said these included five school-aged children, three of whom are "associated with high school sports."

The number of coronavirus fatalities among town residents remains at 43, with the most recent death on June 3.

Sunday's letter from Superintendent Dolan said, "Whether WHS is able to reopen on Monday, Nov. 30 will depend on the school community working together to bring the number of covid cases and exposures down."

She advised, "We know how to do it, but it bears repeating. Wear a mask. Stay at least 6 feet apart. Wash your hands frequently. Avoid parties and other large gatherings."

In the last week, Summit High School and a K-8 school in Cranford also announced they'd go remote for 14 days.

More than 235,000 Americans and 14,500 people in New Jersey have died from the virus. At the height of the crisis in New Jersey on April 30, 460 people passed away in 24 hours.

Here are some other recent Westfield coronavirus and reopening 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.

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT/DINING

• Read about updated Quimby Street events, rules, and street closings here.
• Indoor dining is allowed at 25 percent capacity, until 10 p.m. For a list of rules, click here.
• To read about outdoor dining in Westfield, click here.
• Gov. Murphy signed an executive order allowing gyms, health clubs, and indoor amusement facilities to reopen at 25 percent capacity effective Sept. 1. Equipment must be adjusted to allow a minimum of six feet of distance, and must be sanitized between uses. Everyone must wear masks. More details can be found here.

SCHOOLS

Westfield High School has gone remote twice over coronavirus cases.

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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