TRENTON, N.J. (WCBS 880) — New Jersey students are not even a month into the new school year, but COVID-19 cases are already creating problems in nearly two dozen school districts.
A total of 23 COVID outbreaks have been reported in 22 New Jersey school districts, according to Gov. Phil Murphy.
“Among students, there are 82 reported cases of COVID across 22 school districts, with 16 cases among staff in 10 of those districts,” the governor elaborated.
Just one school district reported two outbreaks, according to state health officials.
The figures released Wednesday marked a large jump from last week, when the state reported six school outbreaks involving just 20 people.
A total of seven schools were forced to switch to remote learning, and three are remaining that way until further notice.
Gov. Murphy said that an outbreak consists of three or more cases within an institution. He added that the state is doing what it can with masks and social distancing to stop the spread of the virus.
“As the new academic year unfolds, we are continuing to work with our educational communities and local health partners to ensure that our schools remain safe spaces for learning,” the governor said.
There is a plan to release total cases by district, according to Christina Tan, the state epidemiologist.
“It's gonna be very helpful not only to the students and the staff and the schools, but also to the general public to have a sense of what is going on,” she said.
The state is encouraging all parents to get eligible children vaccinated against the virus to prevent outbreaks. Almost six in ten students aged 12-17 have already gotten at least one vaccine dose.
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