Schools

COVID Spike Leads To Early Release In South Brunswick High School

Over 150 students reported positive COVID-19 cases or symptoms Thursday. Officials said this spike was connected to a recent school event.

All students and staff at the high school will now be required to wear masks until the spike subsides.
All students and staff at the high school will now be required to wear masks until the spike subsides. (Alex Mirchuk/Patch)

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Over 150 students in South Brunswick High School reported confirmed positive COVID-19 cases or coronavirus symptoms, leading the school district to call for an early release on Thursday.

The cases are connected to a school event that took place this past weekend, district officials said. Officials have asked all attendees of the Temptasian event this past Saturday to closely monitor for symptoms and get tested if needed.

All students and staff at the high school will now be required to wear masks until the spike subsides.

Find out what's happening in South Brunswickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

“Mitigation is our highest priority right now and sending our students and staff home in this way is the best thing we can do to help limit further spread, as masks would have to be removed to eat lunch,” Superintendent Scott Feder told parents in an email.

District officials are assessing the situation and will decide whether in-person classes will be conducted Friday or if students will need a virtual day.

Find out what's happening in South Brunswickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The district said it will implement the following measures:

  • Make rapid testing kits available to all students and staff; more information is to come.
  • Ask that all families immediately notify the school if their child has tested positive, or if they have symptoms.
  • Ask all attendees of the Temptasian event this past Saturday to closely monitor for symptoms and get tested if needed.
  • Conduct a deep cleaning of the high school
  • Require masks to be worn by the entire high school community until the increase in cases subsides.

The school district is working with the health department on this matter.

"Our goal is to keep children and staff safe, and in school learning," Feder said.

"By doing the above mitigation strategies, we hope to be able to keep our schools open and not have to revert to virtual learning."


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