Wayne School COVID Numbers 'Decreased Dramatically'

WAYNE, NJ — Coronavirus numbers in Wayne Public Schools — and the community — may have turned a corner. The numbers of students and staff infected and quarantined significantly decreased, Superintendent Dr. Mark Toback reported at Thursday's Board of Education meeting.

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As of Wednesday, the district had one staff member test positive and one quarantined. Toback also reported seven students with the virus and 37 quarantined.

"Our COVID numbers have decreased dramatically since the end of September," Toback said. (Toback did not say how many cases and quarantines occurred in late September.)

Eighty-five percent of staff have received COVID vaccinations. Gov. Phil Murphy imposed a requirement last summer that all New Jersey school staff must get vaccinated against the virus by Oct. 18, or they'd need to undergo regular testing. Read more: NJ Teachers, State Employees Must Be Vaccinated Or Face Testing

Wayne has also seen progress in terms of coronavirus cases in the entire township. Mayor Christopher P. Vergano reported 143 new cases in October — down from 294 tallied in September. Read more: Progress In Wayne's October COVID Cases, Booster Shots Available

The Wayne Health Department also opened two vaccinations clinics for children ages 5-11, who were recently approved for the Pfizer shots. But all 90 slots filled up "almost immediately," Toback said.

But the health department is looking for “additional ways to provide more opportunities for vaccines based on popular demand,” Toback said.

Related article: Where Kids Under 12 Can Get The COVID Vaccine Around Wayne

Watch the full Board of Education meeting below:

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