MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOLS Office of the Superintendent PO Box 4170, Middletown, NI. 07748 Velophone: (732) 671-3850, ext. 1002 Fax: (732) 291-1036 wownw.middletownk!2.org Mary Ellen Walker Superintendent of Schools October 4, 2020 Dear school community, This letter is to inform you that an individual in New Monmouth Elementary School has tested positive for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This is the second laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 in New Monmouth Elementary School within the last 14 days, An investigation is being carried out, and at this time no connection has been identified between these two cascs. Contact tracing for the most recent laboratory-confirmed case has been completed, and all close contacts have been notified. It is important forthe district to follow New Jersey Department of Health (NIDOH) guidance to guard against the spread of COVID-19 in our school buildings. After consulting with the health department and reviewing NIDOH guidance, we have determined that itis necessary to close the New Monmouth Schoo! building temporarily to enable the district to continue the investigation. Therefore, all New Monmouth Elementary School students and staff will participate virtually on Monday, October 5 through Wednesday, October 7. ‘Temporarily pivoting to virtual instruction is not a step we take lightly, but one that is necessary in order to guard against the spread of COVID-19 at New Monmouth School. As outlined in the NIDOH guidance, a 14 day closure may be necessary if link between these 2 cases is not identified through our investigation. Further information will be provided to the school community pending the outcome of our investigation. We understand the level of concer regarding COVID-19. Your continued support to keep our school community safe and healthy is very much appreciated. We encourage parents and students to continue following the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention promoted safeguards, such as: + Staying home when you are sick; + Washing hands often with soap for at least 20 seconds; + Covering coughs and sneezes and properly disposing of tissues; + Limiting close contact with people who are sick and not sharing food, drinks and utensils; + Practicing social distancing (staying at least 6 feet apart); + Wearing a face covering while in school; + Continuing to monitor your health for symptoms. During this health emergency, you are encouraged to observe your child for any signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and contact your child’s physician and the school nurse if any are noted. Also, please notify the school nurse if your child tests positive for COVID-19. If you have general concerns or questions about COVID-19, please refer to the CDC website or contact the local health department at (732)-615-2095. If you have speci concems or questions about your child’s health, contact your healtheare provider. Below is information from the CDC and additional resources.‘The district will continue (o monitor the situation and if addi mal actions are required to guard against the spread of COVID-19, we will again notify the school community. This closure only affects New Monmouth Elementary School and does not affect other school buildings, We would like to thank you for your continued patience and cooperation as we all partner to navigate these new and complex times, Sincerely, lay ©. tebethed O Mary Ellen Walker Superintendent of Schools @ New Jer: ment of Hi VID-19 Public Health Recommendations for L Ith Departments for K-12 Schools ‘SCENARIO ‘CLOSURE “Teonfirmed case in the school School remains open*; students and staffin close contact with positive case are excluded from school for 14 days. Zor more casesin the same classroom [outbreak limited to one cohort) School remains open*; students and staif in close contact ‘with positive case are excluded from school for 14 days. Recommendations for whether the entire classroom would be considered exposed will be based on public health investigation. Zor more cases within 14 days, but are linked to aan exposure outside the school setting (e.g. in same household, exposed at the same event outside of schoo!) School remains open®; students and stalfin close contact ‘with positive cases are excluded from school for 14 days. Zor more cases within 14 days, inked together by some activity in school, but who are in different classcooms (outbreak involving ‘multiple cohorts) Recommendations for whether scvool Cosure is indicated ‘willbe based on investigation by local health department. ‘Aaignificant community outoreak is occurring or has recently accurred (e.g, large event or large local employer) and is impacting multiple stat, students, and families served by the schoo! community Consider dlosing school for 14 days, based on Investigation by local health department. 2 or more cases are Wentified within 14 days that occur across multiple classrooms and a clear connection between cases cannot be easily identified (outbceak involving multiple cohorts) Close school for 14 days. Very high risk of community transmission (refer to COVID-19 Regional Risk Level Matrix) Close school until COVID-15 transmission decreases. ‘Note: & temporary closure may lca be consicaved Yara period OFS days Fa student or Hall member attended sehooTwhle ‘potentially infectious, before being contrmed as naving COVIO-1. This short term assmisal allows time for ical Neath ‘officials to gen better understanding ofthe COVID-19 situation impacting the schooland perform contact tracing.Additional Information and Resources NJDOH COVID-19 Information for Communities and the General Public: hitos:/www.nj,gov/health/cd/topics/covid2019_community,shtm| Get the Facts about Coronavirus: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.htm| Symptoms of COVID-19: https://www cdc. gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms- testing/symptoms.html © Testing: https://www.cdc,gov/coronavirus/2019-ncovitesting/index.html; https://covid19.n).gov/ ftestin How to Protect Yourself: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting- sick/prevention.htm| What to Do if You Are Sick: