Hazlet Reports More COVID Cases, Middle Road School Goes Virtual

HAZLET, NJ - Middle Road School in Hazlet is suspending in-person instruction through Dec. 12, according to district officials.

According to a Saturday update on the district website, the closure comes amid two COVID-19 cases reported within 24 hours on Saturday, Nov. 28, in addition to another case reported last week.

“All three cases are unrelated and none of the these cases originated within the district, though in the interest of the health and safety for both staff and students, again, as per Monmouth County Department of Health direction, we will err on the side of caution and transition to remote instruction,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Scott Ridley wrote in the announcement.

Students at Middle Road School are slated to return to in-person classes on Monday, Dec. 14.

On Sunday, the district notified parents and students of a rise in cases at two other schools in the district. Two cases were reported at Sycamore Drive Early Childhood Learning Center, cases that “can be linked to the other previous cases at that school.” The individuals reportedly had no additional contact with the district and all affected are in quarantine.

Related: Hazlet's Sycamore Drive School Reports Second COVID-19 Case

Raritan High School also reported three cases, two of which “can be linked to each other and exposure occurred outside of the district.” The third case was not in the building during the “presumed time of contagion,” according to Ridley.

“The District is coordinating closely with public health officials and following CDC, state, and local health department guidance in order to assure the health and safety of our community,” the Sunday update continued. “It is expected that the number of cases will continue to rise in the immediate future and Hazlet will remain proactive in protecting our staff and students through all scenarios.”

Contact tracing has been completed and all close contacts have been notified and quarantined if appropriate, according to the district.

Hazlet Township reported 14 additional cases on Sunday alone, according to the Monmouth County website.

The school district recommends families to continue following recommended safeguards, such as:

• Staying home when you are sick
• Washing hands often with soap for at least 20 seconds
• Covering coughs and sneezes and properly disposing of tissues
• Limiting close contact with people who are sick and not sharing food, drinks and utensils
• Practicing social distancing (staying at least 6 feet apart)
• Wearing a face covering while in school
• Continuing to monitor your health for symptoms