EAST BRUNSWICK–Superintendent Victor Valeski announced that three individuals have tested positive for COVID-19, but the transmission occurred outside of the school district.
“I must report we have three confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 impacting East Brunswick Public Schools. It is extremely important for you to know these positive COVID-19 cases were not from transmissions within our schools. They occurred outside of school. I believe we have created very safe environments in all our facilities, with robust cleaning and sanitizing, supported by our well thought out protocols,” Valeski said in a prepared statement dated Sept. 22.
Valeski said one case had direct contact with selected teachers and students on Team 3 at East Brunswick High School and that resulted in 10 teachers and 27 students being quarantined as “close contacts.”
This illustrates the far-reaching impact a singular positive COVID-19 case can have on the schools and the ability to safely remain open, he said in the statement.
“Additionally, we have two cases from local athletic teams, not related to East Brunswick schools, testing positive for COVID-19 and they have in turn created ‘close contacts’ at Central, Chittick, Lawrence Brook and Memorial Elementary schools, as well as Hammarskjold Middle School, which includes our Early Learning Academy, Before Care and After School Kids programs,” Valeski said in the statement.
Valeski said all impacted staff and students have been notified and placed in quarantine.
“I cannot overemphasize the critical nature of immediate reporting of either positive COVID-19 test results or ‘close contact’ situations outside of school,” Valeski said in the statement. “If your child or family has been in the presence of a known positive COVID-19 individual or family, keep your children home and call us immediately so we can guide you with the next steps for your child’s re-entry to school. If your child presents flu-like symptoms please keep them and their siblings home until they have been evaluated and cleared by a physician.”