Unvaccinated Hillsborough Students Who Travel Far For Thanksgiving Must Quarantine

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Unvaccinated Hillsborough students traveling out of contiguous states for Thanksgiving are being reminded that they must quarantine for 7 to 10 days before returning to school.

However, students who stay within New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware may return to school on the regular date, Monday, Nov. 29.

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If an unvaccinated student tests negative 3 to 5 days after travel, they are required to quarantine for 7 days. If a student does not get tested they are required to quarantine for 10 days. If a student tests positive they must stay home for 10 days after the positive test, said Superintendent Dr. Lisa Antunes during the Monday night Board of Education meeting.

Students who are fully vaccinated do not need to stay home after travel. They should get tested three to five days after international travel.

Antunes added that the district continues to follow the CDC guidelines for travel and asked parents to cooperate with these guidelines.

"Although we all look forward to the loosening and relaxing of restrictions, we must remain vigilant in keeping our schools open full days, five days a week and the health and safety of our students and staff must remain our first priority," said Antunes.

Additionally, with the holidays approaching the New Jersey Department of Health, local Department of Health, and the district physician predict the number of COVID patients will increase throughout the holiday season before stabilizing during the winter.

"We continue to see the increase of COVID-19 cases, especially after extended days off from school or following holidays," said Antunes. "This trend is expected to continue throughout the upcoming holiday season."

Antunes reminded parents that the board members carry "the weight of every decision we make each and every day for the 1,400 staff members and 7,300 students."

"We absolutely must remain vigilant and allow the process to unfold based upon the situation at the moment of decision making. High-risk behavior of several increases the risk of potential exposure to many," said Antunes.

Since Nov. 1, Hillsborough Township Schools have reported 44 positive COVID-19 cases. The schools saw a total of 27 cases in October and 19 in September.

Here is a breakdown of the cases in November:

• Hillsborough High School - 8
• Hillsborough Middle School - 2
• Auten Road Intermediate - 12
• Amsterdam Elementary - 5
• Hillsborough Elementary - 0
• Sunnymead Elementary - 4
• Triangle Elementary - 5
• Woodfern Elementary - 5
• Woods Road Elementary - 2
• Transportation/ B&G Office/ Central Office - 1

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