HAZLET, NJ – Contact tracing in Hazlet schools will remain after the statewide mask mandate in schools is lifted on March 7, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Scott Ridley said in an announcement. video to parents.
In the video dated March 1, Ridley noted that close contacts of COVID-19 positive people in the district will continue to be identified. However, student quarantine will no longer be necessary after March 7, as long as identified close contacts report no symptoms.
Hazlet students and staff can continue to wear masks and choose to self-quarantine if exposed.
Other districts such as Howell Public Schools opted to end contact tracing efforts last month, according to a letter written to parents by Howell Superintendent Joseph Isola. Read more: Howell schools are no longer tracking COVID-19 cases
Masks are no longer required at Hazlet schools starting March 7, according to Gov. Phil Murphy’s announcement last month. Still, although the governor’s spokesperson says districts should require masks to be worn on school transportation until March 7, Ridley noted that “the district recommends not requiring masks to be worn until Friday. March 4,” according to CDC guidelines updated Friday.
“School districts should continue to require masks to be worn on buses until March 7, when the state school mandate ends. We are pleased that the federal government has taken steps to align the protocol of buses on the mask requirement for New Jersey schools,” Murphy’s spokeswoman said. Alyana Alfaro told Patch.
Related: School Bus Mask Mandate Dropping: What Does It Mean For NJ Kids?
Ridley also noted that the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the district fell from more than 100 in eight schools in early January to just 6 cases last week.
“In addition, the central area of Jersey, which spent almost two months in the highly dangerous red zone of the COVID-19 activity level report, has been downgraded to a moderate yellow zone: a significant reduction in terms of activity.”
The full protocol can be found in the District’s Safe Return to In-Person Learning Plan.
“It hasn’t been easy and it certainly hasn’t been quick,” Ridley said. “However, as the weather warms up, it looks like we are headed in the right direction over the days and weeks ahead.”
See the full video announcement below:
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