Westfield Superintendent Says: We're Still Open, But Prepare

WESTFIELD, NJ — On Friday, the same day that the nearby Cranford school district announced that it will transition to full remote learning after Thanksgiving weekend, Westfield's schools superintendent issued a letter saying that most of the district will not go remote — yet.

Westfield High School is already on a remote plan until after Thanksgiving weekend, based on past coronavirus cases at the school. But what about the rest of the district?

"One of the pieces of data we review each week is the New Jersey Department of Health’s COVID-19 activity report," wrote Superintendent Margaret Dolan in a letter on Friday. "This week’s report has placed five of the six regions in our state — including our region, Central East — at the 'High' (Orange) activity level. The top level is 'Very High' (Red).

"I have reviewed this and other local data with the Westfield Regional Health Department and our school physician," she continued. "At this point, both sources recommend that we keep schools open while continuing, as always, to closely monitor the data. Because COVID activity is ever-changing, it is possible that we may need to shift the entire district to all-remote instruction for at least a 14-day period after Thanksgiving. I ask that you be prepared ... and that students and staff bring home all materials necessary for remote learning."

The letter is different from what Cranford Superintendent Scott Rubin wrote to his school community on Friday: "The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) released the latest COVID-19 Activity Level Report yesterday, Thursday, Nov. 19, which includes data for the week ending Nov. 14, 2020. The report indicates that the COVID-19 activity level for the Central East region, which Cranford is a part of, is HIGH overall, and the COVID-19 case rate is identified as VERY HIGH. The New Jersey DOH recommends that school districts consider moving to fully remote learning when the regional status changes to HIGH risk. Additionally, the numbers of new and active cases in our community continue to show an upward trend over the last few weeks."

As a result, Cranford students will be remote from the day after Thanksgiving weekend until Dec. 11. Cranford has also dealt with a number of cases at various schools recently, forcing three to go temporarily remote.

Dolan said in her letter, "There understandably is a wide variety of opinion on whether our schools should remain open, especially around the holidays. Seventy-five percent of our students districtwide are receiving hybrid, in-person instruction. My decisions are, and will continue to be, based on the data and the recommendations of our local and state public health officials who have years of training along with the most up-to-date information regarding this public health crisis."

She also said, "I now receive thousands of emails a week ... I do read every email and consider every suggestion and concern."

Westfield recently lost another resident to the virus, Mayor Shelley Brindle announced Friday. Read more here.

2,505 hospitalized statewide

Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday that the state had reached 14,900 deaths of residents due to the virus. There were also 3,635 cases confirmed since the day before, for a total of 290,370 since March.

Murphy said there were 2,505 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in New Jersey as of Friday, with 452 in intensive care and 233 on ventilators. Read more here.

On Thursday, the state said that 34 people had passed away due to the virus in the last 24 hours.

But the death rate was lower than in late April, when it reached 460 cases in 24 hours on April 30.

Doctors have said that a number of factors are contributing to the drop in the death rate since spring, including people getting test results (and thus treatment) sooner, more protective equipment available in hospitals, and doctors becoming better able to treat the virus. However, the virus still can have long-term effects.

Other 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.

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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