TRENTON – During Gov. Phil Murphy’s daily update on COVID-19 on April 16, he said schools will be closed through at least May 15.
With districts getting out of school for summer only one month later, it lent credibility to the thought that schools may be closed for the rest of the year.
Many local schools have the last week of school June 15-19, with Toms River getting out a week early because they gave up spring break. Ocean County College had already closed for the rest of the semester.
As of press time, New Jersey had 75,000 cases and 3,500 deaths. Ocean County has had 4,200 cases and 185 deaths. Monmouth County has had 4,300 cases and 190 deaths. These numbers are low, experts have said. They only count those who have been tested. Many people have not been tested or they are asymptomatic. Additionally, people who die of undiagnosed respiratory ailments at home or in nursing homes are not likely being tested.
There have also been 75,000 people who were tested by major labs and come up negative. However, it is unclear how many of them were false negatives, which is known to have happened.
“Let me be perfectly clear: There is nobody who wants to open the schools more than I do,” Murphy said. However, officials have to follow the advice of medical professionals who have said that it is not yet safe to open them.
Meanwhile, it is expected that businesses are to remain closed at least that long.
The governor’s executive orders have canceled gatherings of more than 10 people, and shuttered non-essential businesses. The idea behind social distancing recommendations is to “flatten the curve.” This means to slow the spread of the virus so that hospitals don’t get overwhelmed.
