Hazlet Schools Report 16 New Cases Since Friday, Protocol Update

HAZLET, NJ - 16 new COVID-19 cases have been reported within the Hazlet Public Schools community since Friday, according to district officials.

In the Jan. 12 district update, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Scott Ridley cited the probable increase in COVID-19 cases due to holiday gatherings over winter break.

“Several of these cases are likely the result of holiday gatherings and we are hopeful that the numbers will be lower moving forward. As the District returns to in-person teaching, we will continue to monitor and coordinate cases as they evolve,” the notice reads.

Here is the breakdown by school:

• Raritan High School: 8 new cases
• Lillian Drive School: 2 new cases
• Middle Road School: 2 new cases
• Hazlet Middle School: 2 new cases
• Sycamore Drive Early Childhood Learning Center: 2 new cases

All the individuals have had no recent contact with the school, according to the notice.

On Monday, the district released updated virus protocol and quarantine procedures. Any staff member or student who tests positive for the virus must isolate for 10 days at home. The individual may return to school without another test provided that the individual is fever-free and symptoms are improving.

In accordance with updated NJDOH guidelines, any staff member or student who travels to a restricted area must quarantine for 10 days upon return, even if no symptoms of COVID-19 are present. However, any staff member or student exposed to an individual who has tested positive must quarantine for 14 days. It is not possible to test out of quarantine.

The announcement comes less than a week after Ridley warned community members that, while many Hazlet students are currently enjoying in-person classes, the schedule may shift "quickly and unexpectedly" should public health data change.

“I am hopeful that real-time instruction will remain in place moving forward, but we must all continue to be diligent and responsible as circumstances can change quickly and unexpectedly and cause us to return to full-scale remote learning once again," Ridley said last week. Read more: Hazlet: In-Person Schedule 'Will Not Necessarily Be Permanent'

Monmouth County reported 451 new cases on Jan. 11 alone, with 15 in Hazlet. The municipality has seen 134 new cases since Jan. 1 and 1,097 total cases since the pandemic began. Read more: Monmouth Co.'s Weekly COVID Cases Up 27 Percent: See Town Updates

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

“PLEASE be ethical, diligent and responsible regarding your travel, your adherence to in-place expectations, and your willingness to report any cases in your family to the school nurse or principal,” Ridley wrote in the protocol update.

“Please avoid large indoor gatherings and any similar situations that may put others at risk. If the entire community works together, we will be able to downsize the number of positive cases and move closer toward restoring a sense of normalcy.”