Beers Street School Goes Remote Following String Of COVID Cases

HAZLET, NJ - Students at Hazlet’s Beers Street School transitioned to a full-remote schedule Monday after a reported COVID-19 case increase at the school in the last two weeks, according to a statement on the school district website.

Approximately 225 students at the elementary school - which serves grades five through six - are slated to return to in-person instruction on Monday, Feb. 8. The closure comes amid a number of recent positive cases, with four reported in two weeks and two in the last two days, according to the school district. The cases are “accompanied by extended close contact, as well as several other staff/students awaiting test results,” which “has propelled BSS into the Very High Risk of Community Transmission category as per Monmouth County Department of Health directives.”

According to the district, guidance for this category recommends fully remote learning.

“Presently a significant number of staff and students are already quarantined and we must be mindful of others who may have been exposed to one of those individuals but has yet to develop symptoms,” the district wrote in a Jan. 24 statement. “Additionally, securing appropriate coverage for all homerooms has become problematic given the number of staff already quarantining. Our District nurses support this decision. Our commitment to health and safety will continue.”

Hazlet schools resumed in-person instruction on Jan. 11 following winter recess. However, while students at all eight schools returned to live classrooms earlier this month, school officials warned that the schedule may shift "quickly and unexpectedly" should public health data change.

"We realize the number of cases remain high, and that we are not yet clear of this pandemic, but our schools are safe and our kids are eager to see their peers and to learn once again in real-time," Superintendent of Schools Dr. Scott Ridley said in a Jan. 8 video update. "That said, I must stress that Monday's return will not necessarily be permanent, as we will continue to monitor the data, consult our health professionals and heed Gov. Murphy's directives." Read more: Hazlet: In-Person Schedule 'Will Not Necessarily Be Permanent'

The nearby Holmdel school district has mostly operated on a full-time schedule since Dec. 14. The district also took a brief pause on in-person instruction following winter recess. Read more: Holmdel Students Return To Full Time In-Person Instruction

Monmouth County reported 389 new cases on Sunday alone, an increase of over 2,500 in the previous week. Hazlet has seen 290 new cases since Jan. 1 and 1,253 total cases since the pandemic began.

Related: Monmouth Co.'s Remain Cases In COVID 'Red Zone:' See Town Updates