Toms River Schools Dismissing Early Over Coronavirus Concerns

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Toms River Regional School District is dismissing classes early on Friday to continue preparations in case the district is ordered to close due to the new coronavirus.

District officials said parents, staff and students were told of Friday's early dismissal on Thursday.

The early dismissal is to allow for continued cleaning and sanitizing in the buildings to help prevent the virus from being spread in the Toms River schools.

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The state Department of Education ordered all districts in the state to prepare for the possibility of a closure due to COVID-19, which is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that's a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past. There were 29 cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey as of Thursday. One man, from Bergen County, has died. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

District officials said they are continuing to update the school district website as events warrant. Parents who lack internet access at home and have not told the school district of that issue should contact their child's school principal immediately.

Here is the early dismissal schedule:

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