West Orange School Will Quarantine For 2 Weeks Due To Coronavirus

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Kelly Elementary School in West Orange will be quarantined for two weeks due to the coronavirus, officials said Sunday.

In addition to Kelly Elementary School, COVID-19 cases have been confirmed at West Orange High School and Liberty Middle School, according to a statement from Superintendent Scott Cascone.

READ MORE: West Orange Schools Hit Brakes On Reopening Plan

Cascone offered more details about the latest cases in a letter to the community on Sunday. He wrote:

“This letter is to inform you that two individuals at West Orange High School, one individual at Liberty Middle School and one individual at Kelly Elementary School have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). Further, and as was previously communicated, due to the confirmation of two positive cases at Kelly Elementary School within the last week and as these cases were unrelated, Kelly Elementary School will be quarantined for two weeks. There will be no staff or students permitted in the school during this time.”

Cascone said Kelly Elementary will be sanitized, and administrators anticipate the functions of the building will resume on Nov. 23. Although, the building will be closed and unoccupied by staff, the building administration and faculty will continue to deliver virtual instruction and be available to parents and students online and via email communication. Daily food service pick-ups will continue to be offered and will be available through a mobile distribution station in the parking lot, similar to the scenario that took place during the school closures last spring and over the course of the summer.

Cascone added:

“The school district is working closely with public health officials and is following Centers for Disease Control (CDC), state, and local health department guidance in order to ensure the health and safety of our community. Any individual who was identified as being a close contact with the positive individual has been notified to self-quarantine and monitor symptoms as a precaution, as per the guidance of the West Orange Health Department. All exposed areas in the school have been disinfected and cleaned and all schools are disinfected on a daily basis. The district continues to work in consultation with the local health department on this matter and we have been advised that there is no need to close school. The West Orange Health Department has advised the district that no additional action is necessary at this time.”

Cascone said that parents and students throughout the district should continue to follow CDC-recommended safety guidelines such as:

• Stay home when you are sick or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Cover coughs and sneezes while properly disposing of tissues
• Limit close contact with people who are sick and do not share food, drinks and utensils
• Maintain a minimum of 6 feet social distancing
• Wear a CDC-recommended face covering while in school
• Continue to monitor your health for symptoms

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