One Summit Elementary School Goes Remote For 2 Weeks Due To Covid

SUMMIT, NJ — Summit Schools Superintendent Scott Hough sent a letter late Friday informing parents that one of the district's elementary schools, Brayton Elementary, will go remote until Dec. 18 due to coronavirus cases.

All other district schools will remain open for on-site instruction for now.

However, because Union County was recently designated "high risk" for transmission by the state of New Jersey, Summit school sports have been canceled for now. And due to concerns about residents traveling over the holidays, the Summit public schools will go remote for two weeks after winter break.

"We are writing to inform you that based on recommendations from the Westfield Regional Health Department, we are closing Brayton Elementary School for in-person instruction for 14 days," wrote Hough on Friday. "Instruction will continue remotely through Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. In-person instruction will resume on Friday, Dec. 18."

He explained, "In recent days, we have experienced difficulties with the consistent delivery of in-person instruction due to the number of potential close contacts required to quarantine from Brayton. The Department of Health’s recommendation to temporarily transition to remote instruction will help provide students with a stable learning environment while keeping the health and safety of our educational community at the forefront."

He added, "Members of the Brayton School community can expect additional communications from Principal Moretz with specifics on instruction, scheduling, and returning. We thank the teachers and staff members for their flexibility and preparedness."

Summit High School recently went remote for 14 days, but has reopened for on-site instruction.

Hough wrote, "If you learn that your child has tested positive for COVID-19, immediately contact the building principal, school nurse, and covidreporting@summit.k12.nj.us if notifying after school hours. The timely notification will allow us to immediately begin contact tracing. We will continue to collaborate with the Department of Health to complete contact tracing and monitor the number of positive cases in our school community. We will continue to follow the Department of Health’s recommendations regarding closing in any capacity."

Summit statistics and statewide trends

The city of Summit reported on Friday that the Westfield Regional Health Department is confirmed 59 new positive COVID-19 cases in Summit from last Tuesday through Thursday inclusive.

There have now been 793 total positive confirmed cases in Summit since early March, the city said.

Eighteen Summit residents have died from the virus, including a 102-year-old woman in October.

A week ago, the city said that five residents were hospitalized with the virus, and gave an age breakdown.

Approximately 22,000 people live in Summit.

At the height of the crisis in New Jersey, 460 people died from the virus in 24 hours on April 30. READ MORE: 'I Cannot Get Air': When Local Woman Begged For Coronavirus Test

Doctors have said that a number of factors are contributing to the lower daily death rate as cases rise, including people getting test results (and thus treatment) sooner, more protective equipment available in hospitals, and doctors becoming better able to treat the virus. However, the virus still can have long-term effects.

And fatalities are rising again. From last Monday to Tuesday, the state of New Jersey reported 90 new fatalities, the highest daily death rate since July.

More than 266,000 Americans and 15,000 people in New Jersey have died from the virus so far.

Here are some other Summit coronavirus statistics and testing information:

SCHOOLS

• Summit school sports have been canceled for now because of the "high risk" designation in Union County.
• The Summit public schools will go remote for two weeks after winter break.
• Summit High School recently went remote for 14 days, and other schools have reported coronavirus cases.
• Schools in Summit reopened in early September with a hybrid plan.
• For past school reopening updates, click this story.

HOW TO GET TESTED

• Union County has added mobile walk-up test sites in addition to the drive-through testing site located at Kean University. Testing is free for Union County residents and is by appointment only with no car required; participants must wear masks and observe social distance. Any Union County resident can make an appointment for a test, whether they have symptoms. To pick a location, date and time, and to make an appointment online, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update/walk-up.
• Union County residents who need to make an appointment by phone can call 908-518-4307 for assistance. Non-profit organizations and other community groups can call the Union County Office of Emergency Management at 908-654-9881 to request a visit from the Mobile Test Unit.

• To find out more, you can also contact your doctor, visit covid19.nj.gov/testing, or call 211.

NATIONAL STATISTICS

• Use this link to see the updated fatality count in the United States.
• More than 900 health care workers have died of the virus nationally.
• Others are simultaneously fighting misinformation and hoaxes as they try to fight the virus.

HOW TO GET HELP WITH HEAT, RENT, AND MORE

• During the State of Emergency in New Jersey, no tenant is permitted to be evicted from their home or apartment for the inability to pay rent. Talk to your local mayor's office if you are experiencing difficulties.
• The CARES act has made money available to help with rent in each city. More information is here.
• New Jersey residents can get help with heating and energy bills. Information is here.
• Various other avenues of relief and benefits have also been made available, including family leave for 12 weeks if you can't work due to your child's school or camp being closed, and changes to unemployment rules to help those who were at a job for a short time, or freelancing.
• Programs are being added constantly, so don't think you can't get help. Reach out to your local mayor's office to find out what kind of funds may be available to help you get through this time.

LONG-TERM CARE

• Recently, there were 159 long term care facilities with active outbreaks, the state Department of Health said this month. The state also announced that deaths at the facilities had more than doubled since May 1. The state has stopped updating the numbers at facilities without current outbreaks.
• New Jersey residents were already alarmed at the high number of residents who have passed away in nursing homes, rehabs, and similar facilities. The state announced plans in May to increase testing at some long term care facilities and to bring in the National Guard temporarily to help make changes.
• The state released death toll statistics late in spring for long-term care facilities like rehabs and nursing homes. See the list here.
• You can report problems with long term care facilities here, or if you suspect coronavirus related misconduct, here.
• Some New Jersey long-term care facilities reopened for limited visits, with precautions, in July.

Here are statewide coronavirus resources:

• NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/
• General COVID-19 questions: 2-1-1
• NJ COVID-19 hotline: (800) 222-1222

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