COVID-19 Update
December 14, 2020
A Message from the Superintendent
As COVID-19 cases rise in our region, we will be increasing our communications with employees. It is our goal to keep everyone updated with relevant COVID-19 information and resources. Since COVID-19 guidance changes often, we are introducing a COVID-19 Information Hub to the district website under the "Employee" menu. Stay tuned for more details. It's important that we all remain vigilant and informed.
As a general reminder, if you test positive for COVID-19, or are a close contact (defined below) to someone who has tested positive, please inform your supervisor for assistance.
Sincerely,
Daniel Del Vecchio
Superintendent
RISK FACTOR CATEGORY - HIGH
For the week ending December 5, 2020, the Southwest region, which includes Camden County, remains in the high risk/orange category. To review the most up-to-date COVID activity report, click here. NOTE: COVID-19 Activity Level Reports are published by the NJDOH every Thursday for the preceding week.
Guidance for High Risk Regions
Per the New Jersey Department of Health, orange regions should consider implementing fully remote learning.
If schools remain open for in-person learning:
- In response to staff or student who is a COVID-19 case or who has COVID-19 compatible symptoms (not yet tested), follow COVID-19 exclusion criteria;
- work with local health department to identify and exclude close contacts according to CDC guidance;
- refer to guidance on cleaning and disinfection.
* Decisions on when ill person’s close contacts can return to school are dependent on the ill person’s medical evaluation and COVID-19 test results. Restrict activities that involve interaction with multiple cohorts.
COVID-19 Testing Sites
As cases continue to rise in the county and state, Cooper University Health Care in conjunction with the Camden County Freeholder Board and Camden County Department of Health are opening new Covid testing sites throughout the county to allow more people to get tested for COVID-19.
COVID-19 Information Hub
COVID-19 Compatible Symptoms
Individuals should not go to school/work when sick. School staff should have plans to isolate students with overt symptoms of any infectious disease that develop during the school day. For school settings, NJDOH recommends that individuals with the following symptoms be promptly isolated from others and excluded from school:
- At least two of the following symptoms: fever (measure or subjective), chills, rigors (shivers), myalgia (muscle aches), headache, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, congestion or runny nose;
- At least one of the following symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new olfactory disorder, new taste disorder.
When Someone Tests Positive for COVID-19
Schools should ensure that parents and staff notify school authorities if students or staff test positive for COVID-19. Schools should notify the local health department and provide the following information, where available:
- Contact information for the person(s) who tested positive for COVID-19;
- The date the COVID-19 positive person developed symptoms (if applicable), tested positive for COVID-19 (if known), and was last in the building;
- Types of interactions (close contacts, length of contact) the person may have had with other persons in the building or in other locations;
- Names, addresses, and telephone numbers for positive person’s close contacts in the school;
- Any other information to assist with the determination of next steps. As long as routine cleaning and disinfecting have been done regularly (at least daily), additional cleaning measures are not necessary unless the COVID-19 case is in school on the day school officials are notified of the positive test. Notify the school community as per school protocol.
What is a Close Contact?
CONTACT US
Email: lperlow@camdenesc.org
Website: www.camdenesc.org/
Location: 225 White Horse Avenue, Clementon, NJ, USA
Phone: 856-807-1754
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CamdenCountyESC
Twitter: @CamdenCountyESC