Teacher In Cranford Schools Has Coronavirus, Lives In Monmouth

CRANFORD, NJ — Parents and community members in Cranford were notified Wednesday morning that a teacher the Cranford public schools tested positive for coronavirus.

The teacher lives in another town. While officials couldn't give more identifying information, the person apparently lives in Monmouth County, where a number of cases were reported recently.

The district also said that the teacher hasn't had contact with anyone in the Cranford community since March 6.

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Cranford itself has had one resident with the virus so far.

The letter says:

<blockquote>

Dear Parents/Guardians and Community members,

Late last night, the Cranford Township Health Officer, Michael Fitzpatrick, received confirmation that an individual who lives in another community, but is a teacher in the Cranford Public School System, tested positive for COVID-19.

The Monmouth County Department of Health will be following all related protocols issued by the State Department of Health for case investigation and contact tracing. This entails a full inventory of the individual’s recent activities and locations visited. From this assessment, notification to all other individuals who have been identified as close contacts will follow. These individuals will also be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days.

In accordance with privacy laws, the Health Department is unable to release any personally identifiable information about this patient, including school name. However, please know that the last day the faculty member had contact with anyone in the district was March 6.

Families are reminded to take all recommended precautions and exercise best practices like hand washing and social distancing to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. If you or a family member is experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, call your healthcare provider before arriving for an evaluation.

There are currently at least 267 cases in New Jersey. While the number of positive test results statewide will likely continue to rise, residents should monitor themselves for any symptoms related to the virus. They include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

The Health Department, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), CPD, CFD, the Mayor and Township Committee, and the Cranford Public School system will continue to work in close partnership with one another in order to best support our community.
At this time, we should all be reminded to maintain the following health and hygiene behaviors:

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or into your sleeve, not your hands.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Wash hands often, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing.
• Keep your children home when they are sick.
• Avoid people who are sick.
• Get a flu shot – it’s not too late to be protected.
• Clean and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces and objects.

If the general public has questions regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19), please contact the New Jersey Department of Health Hotline at 800-222-1222.

Please know that we face this public health concern together. We must all take care of ourselves and each other. Cranford is a caring, supportive, and resilient community that can overcome whatever challenges it faces in the coming weeks.
</blockquote>

More than 267 people in New Jersey have tested positive and three have died.

Experts say that the novel coronavirus, because it's new, is more lethal and much harder to treat than the flu.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

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