Wayne Schools Continue COVID Protocols With NJ State Of Emergency

WAYNE, NJ — The masks are staying on at Wayne Township Public Schools. That wasn't the district's decision, but the result of Gov. Murphy declaring a public health emergency that retains mask mandates in K-12 schools.

Murphy declared the emergency Tuesday after the state legislature failed to extend his emergency powers. The governor ended New Jersey's 15-month-long COVID-19 state of emergency in June. But state lawmakers allowed Murphy to maintain certain emergency powers, including the ability to continue mask mandates in K-12 schools, until Jan. 11.

The legislature had the option to extend the arrangement for 90 days with a new resolution, but they didn't even pass a 45-day extension compromise. As a result, Murphy declared another COVID emergency to regain the power to mandate masks in K-12 schools.

As a result, the COVID-mitigation protocols at Wayne schools will remain in place for the foreseeable future, Superintendent Dr. Mark Toback said Tuesday in a brief announcement.

The COVID protocols include not only the mask mandate but following cleaning guidelines, physical distancing and identifying close contacts when someone tests positive. Find more details here on the district's COVID protocols.

Wayne schools have remained open during the omicron-variant surge. But they've faced challenges with shortages of teachers and bus drivers, along with an increase in students and staff testing positive for COVID-19.

Seventeen bus drivers were out Monday, which caused some students to arrive late to school. As the nation faces a shortage of school bus drivers, Toback noted the district will likely see delays and other transportation issues for the time being. Read more: More School Bus Delays 'Likely' As Wayne Faces Driver Shortage

During Jan. 3's return from winter break, the district had vacancies for 189 substitutes but could only hire 51. Teachers and administrators — many of whom already taught additional classes beyond their regular schedules — covered the rest of the vacancies. Read more: More School Bus Delays 'Likely' As Wayne Faces Driver Shortage

Wayne schools reported 520 students with COVID-19 and 537 quarantined as of Thursday, along with 98 staff who tested positive and 32 employees quarantined. See the district's COVID-19 dashboard.

The issue isn't exclusive to Wayne. Reported cases among students and staff in New Jersey K-12 schools more than doubled from the week ending Dec. 26 to the week ending Jan. 2, according to the state health department. Case rates increased from 10.5 to 24.97 of every 1,000 students and from 23.27 to 58.55 infections for every 1,000 employees in that span.

See more local resources:

• Here's where to find a COVID-19 booster shot — or first or second vaccination — around Wayne.
• Need to get tested for COVID-19? See Wayne Patch's guide on what to know about local testing centers.

Although most people with COVID-19 get better within weeks of the illness, some experience conditions known as long COVID or long-haul COVID, according to the CDC. Learn more about long COVID at the CDC's post-COVID conditions page.

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