COVID In Passaic Co. Schools: What New NJ Data Reveals

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — Compared to the rest of New Jersey, Passaic County schools have among the lowest numbers of new coronavirus cases reported among students and staff.

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The revelation came after the New Jersey Department of Health released new data Monday on its COVID-19 dashboard. The dashboard now shows significantly more school data at the county level but still doesn't display any school numbers at the individual, district or municipal levels.

Passaic County's data includes 121 reporting schools, including private K-12 institutions. Numbers will get updated weekly.

The state reported 1.26 new cases per 1,000 individuals in Passaic County schools — the third-lowest mark in New Jersey. The state average stood at 2.05 new cases per 1,000, while Sussex County reported the highest prevalence of infections with 4.04 per 1,000 people in its schools.

Passaic County schools had 73 new cases — the eighth-lowest figure reported in the state. The health department also tallied 11 new cases among staff — the state's fifth-lowest reported total.

Schools in Passaic County have reported 707 cases since the school year began, which ranks 11th among New Jersey's 21 counties. The county's 155 cumulative staff cases are the ninth fewest in the state.

Statewide, 1.4 percent of students have missed time at school for COVID-19 reasons, including those with the virus who were isolating and unvaccinated students who needed to quarantine. In Passaic County that figure only stands at 0.8 percent — the second-lowest in the state behind Hudson County's 0.7 percent.

The new data also shows the percentage of school staff vaccinated against COVID-19. Statewide, 84.9 percent of staff are vaccinated against the virus, while Passaic County stands at 84.1 percent.

Previously, New Jersey largely limited its available school data to outbreaks, which require three or more confirmed COVID cases among those linked within a school setting, not including people in the same household.

So far this year, Passaic County schools have seen eight outbreaks linked to 102 cases. Schools in the county have reported 707 student cases and 155 staff cases overall.

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