2 At Manchester High School Positive For Coronavirus: Official

MANCHESTER, NJ — Two people at Manchester Township High School have tested positive for the coronavirus, the district announced.

In letters posted on the district's website, Manchester Superintendent David Trethaway said the two cases are "in no way connected."

On Monday, Trethaway said in a letter to parents an individual had tested positive and anyone who had been in close contact with the person would be notified directly. He did not release any information on the person's identity due to privacy requirements, he said.

On Wednesday, a letter to parents announced a student had tested positive but was considered to be an isolated case.

"Any student who has been determined to be a close contact with this student either in or outside of school has been contacted," he said.

Manchester's schools opened with hybrid instruction on Sept. 8 as the district worked to limit the number of students in a classroom. Students attend in-person classes twice a week and receive remote instruction the other days.

Trethaway said the district has been working with the Ocean County Board of Health and is continuing the district's daily health and safety protocols as well as the cleaning and disinfecting of schools.

Students are screened daily, including health forms that must be filled out and temperature checks, he said, and all students and staff are required to wear masks.

"By restricting all students and staff from being in close contact with other students and staff, and by maintaining the 6-foot distance and wearing masks, we limit and even eliminate the number of students who would be considered close contacts," Trethaway said.

"Unfortunately, COVID-19 is a part of our life and isolated cases continue to occur throughout the Ocean County community and our schools. That is the reason that we all must take the proper precautions regardless of our location to ensure that if any case develops, it remains an isolated case," he wrote.

Ocean County has seen a spike in positive coronavirus cases in the last two weeks, adding more than 800 positive cases during that time. Manchester has seen a rise from 897 cases as of Sept. 10 to 930 as of Wednesday, according to figures from the Ocean County Health Department. Last week, Ocean County had back-to-back days where it added triple-digit totals of new cases. On Wednesday the county had 45 new cases.

State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli had said new cases have been rising significantly among young people in recent weeks, with nearly half of all new positives among those ages 10 to 29.

"We fully understand the level of concern of all parents, students and staff regarding COVID-19 and we again encourage all to continue to follow the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommended safeguards," Trethway said. Those safeguards include:

• Staying home when you are sick
• Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Covering coughs and sneezes
• Practicing social distancing (staying at least six feet apart)
• Wearing face coverings in school
• Continue to monitor your health and complete the health forms each day when attending school

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