Nearly 200 Coronavirus Cases Linked To NJ Schools: See Where

NEW JERSEY — Nearly 200 reports of coronavirus linked to New Jersey schools have been logged in a National Education Association database tracking cases.

The tracker is the brainchild of Kansas teacher Alisha Morris, who began developing it in early August. Since then, the project has expanded and the NEA has taken the reins.

Morris started building the database on Aug. 6, she told NPR in a recent interview. It was initially based on news reports going back to July 1, she explained.

Most of the cases are linked to extra curricular activities, including sports, as well parties and small gatherings. You can see the full list here.

The database comes as Gov. Phil Murphy also has released new data that has identified at least 22 coronavirus outbreaks at New Jersey schools, saying New Jersey has created a dashboard that now tracks periodic school cases and outbreaks confirmed by local health departments. The dashboard, however, is not nearly as specific as the NEA list. Read more: Gov. Murphy: 22 Coronavirus Outbreaks At NJ Schools In New Data

Murphy said New Jersey has had minimal disruptions reported and that "any identified cases have been quickly dealt with to minimize the potential of in-school spread."

Murphy, citing the new data, said 22 outbreaks – with a total of 83 cases linked to outbreaks – "is probably about as good as I would have hoped" for New Jersey after having schools open for a month. Many schools reopened with strong safety standards. Read more: Gov. Murphy Issues NJ School Reopening Rules Amid Coronavirus

"Those are pretty darned good results," Murphy said.

The numbers also give the state more confidence that schools can reopen their buildings after starting the year with remote learning, the governor said.

The state Department of Health Department's county-by-county data of reported outbreaks, all traced to in-school transmission, is defined as:

• Two or more laboratory-confirmed coronavirus cases among students or staff within a 14-day period.
• The cases are epidemiologically linked with a school setting.
• The cases involve people who do not share a household and were not identified as close contacts of each other.

It's not clear how many schools have actually shut down or switched to remote learning because of the coronavirus, but a number of Patch school districts have reported cases that have caused changes to their plans:

• Hillsborough Schools Stops Sports For 2 Weeks Due To COVID Cases
• Westfield Schools Say Student Coronavirus Cases May Be Connected
• Positive Coronavirus Case Reported At Clark Middle School
• Employee At Manasquan High School Tests Positive For COVID-19
• Belmar Coronavirus Cases Jump 13 Percent In September
• Montclair State Student, Staff Member Test Positive For COVID-19
• Ridgewood High Student Tests Positive For Coronavirus: District
• Westwood Regional Middle School Delays In-Person Instruction
• 2 From Barnegat Schools Test Positive For Coronavirus
• Mahwah's Joyce Kilmer School Remains Closed Through Wednesday
• 3 Mahwah Schools Close After Positive Coronavirus Cases This Week
• East Brunswick Teachers, Students Quarantine After COVID Contact
• Someone In Middletown South Football Program Positive For COVID
• Three Students At Christian Brothers Academy Positive For COVID
• Cranford Student Tests Positive For Coronavirus: Superintendent
• Clark Football Team Quarantined After Contact With Positive Cases
• Matawan Regional Football Team Currently In Quarantine
• Red Bank Regional COVID-19 Case Prompts School Closure
• Morristown High School All-Virtual Until At Least Friday
  

NJ Spotlight also allowed Patch to republish its list of school districts and their plans:

Opinions on whether students should return to the classrooms are split: many districts opted for an online start due to concerns from teachers and some community members. A lack of staffing has also complicated bringing students back into a school setting in a socially-distanced environment.

While New Jersey officials have said schools can reopen as long as they have an approved safety plan in place, the state recently started producing weekly reports that are supposed to assist districts in determining whether they switch to online learning or stay with in-person instruction. Read more: 11 NJ Counties Backslide In Coronavirus Crisis: Here's Where