Westfield Schools List Acceptable And Unacceptable Face Coverings

WESTFIELD, NJ — The Westfield schools, like several other nearby districts, are set to open Tuesday. While the reopening plan hasn't changed much from a month ago — some students will alternate days in the buildings while others will learn remotely — the district gave more updates recently.

Superintendent Margaret Dolan said on Aug. 27 that integrated pre-K class sizes were small enough that those students may learn on-site for four-hour days, as long as sizes don't increase.

And on Tuesday, the district also posted photos from the Westfield Regional Health Department of "acceptable" and "unacceptable" face coverings that students can wear to satisfy the schools' mandatory mask requirements.

Students may wear clear, surgical, dust, or cloth masks — but not bandanas or masks with a vent.

The CDC had posted last week, "Masks with exhalation valves or vents should NOT be worn to help prevent the person wearing the mask from spreading COVID-19 to others."

The CDC post also gives scientific evidence about how masks cut the risk of spreading the virus, which has claimed more than 180,000 people in the United States.

Dolan's most recent letter Tuesday also includes a link to a video tour of the classrooms and safety measures.

To read the details of Westfield's reopening, plan, click here.

Coronavirus statistics

In an update to the town on Tuesday, Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle said Westfield has had confirmation of two coronavirus cases among its residents since Friday, bringing the total to 364 since the pandemic began.

A week ago, Brindle announced that Westfield had gone a week without a new covid case.

Two weeks ago, on Friday, Aug. 14, Brindle had reported that the total was 360.

The total fatalities remain at 43 since the most recent death on June 3.

You can see the mayor's breakdown of coronavirus cases from the entire month of July by clicking here.

Brindle wrote last Friday, "With the state’s and Westfield’s encouraging covid trends, I think we can safely expand our dining capacity to ensure the sustainability of our restaurants in advance of colder weather."

Gov. Murphy said Monday that indoor dining would be allowed Friday with 25 percent occupancy. Here are more of the rules:

• Parties must capped at eight people, and tables must be 6 feet apart.
• Staff must wear masks all times.
• Diners must wear masks when not in their seats.
• Food and beverages can only be consumed while seated.

For a complete list of rules, click here.

To read about outdoor dining in Westfield, click here.

Here are some other recent Westfield coronavirus and reopening updates:

HOW TO GET TESTED: WALK-UP SITES

• Union County has added mobile walk up test sites in addition to the 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.

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS

• Tickets for the Westfield 300 Summer Movie Series are free but require advance registration here. The rain date for Raiders of The Lost Ark being will be Thursday.
• Read about updated Quimby Street events, rules, and street closings here.
• Gov. Murphy recently signed an executive order allowing gyms, health clubs, and indoor amusement facilities to reopen at 25 percent capacity effective Sept. 1. Equipment must be adjusted to allow a minimum of six feet of distance, and must be sanitized between uses. Everyone must wear masks. More details can be found here.

STATE AND NATIONAL TRENDS

• On Saturday, New Jersey's total death toll climbed to 14,153 after four confirmed deaths were announced since the day before. The state also announced 388 new confirmed positive cases, bringing the total cases since the beginning of the pandemic to 191,611.
• However, this daily death rate has declined since back on April 30, when it reached a peak of 460 residents in 24 hours, or one person every three minutes.
• Many other states' death rates reached records in July (see the daily totals in each state here), and had to pull back on some of their reopenings.
• New Jersey has asked people to quarantine if returning from 31 states and two territories.
• More than 176,000 Americans have now died of coronavirus, and more than 5.6 million have tested positive.
• More than 900 health care workers have died of the virus nationally. Others are simultaneously fighting misinformation 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.

LONG-TERM CARE

• New Jersey residents have become 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 to help make changes.
• The state released death toll statistics 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.
• Other states have been dealing with nursing home deaths more recently, including a recent outbreak in a Texas nursing home.

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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