Weekly COVID-19 Case Updates

OCEAN CITY, NJ (November 25, 2020) - As Cape May County is experiencing a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, which has placed the County in the moderate risk zone, it is important to understand the definitions of close contact. The U.S. health officials, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), redefined what counts as close contact with someone with COVID-19 to include briefer, but repeated encounters.  

For months, the CDC said close contact meant spending a solid 15 minutes within 6 feet of someone who tested positive for coronavirus. The CDC changed it to a total of 15 minutes or more — so shorter but repeated contacts that add up to 15 minutes over a 24-hour period now count. 

The CDC advises anyone who has been in close contact with a COVID-19 patient to quarantine for two weeks. 

Totals As Of November 25, 2020

The number of close contact cases as of November 25, 2020 for the School District are: 236. There are 40 positive cases in the School District.

Please see below the New Jersey Department of Health requirements concerning positive cases:   

• Confirmed case in school.  In this scenario, the District will consult with the health department to determine whether a short-term closure is necessary.  If schools remain open, individuals in close contact are excluded from school for 14 days. Per NJ Department of Health, those classrooms and spaces, such as the gym and cafeteria, that a COVID-19 positive individual was in, will be closed for 24 hrs before it can be cleaned. Parents will be notified if their child is in contact with a positive individual. If you have questions, please contact your child’s school nurse.  
• Two or more cases in the same classroom.  In this scenario, the District will consult with the health department to determine whether a short-term closure is necessary.  If schools remain open, individuals in close contact are excluded from school for 14 days. Parents will be notified if their child is in contact with a positive individual. If you have questions, please contact your child’s school nurse.  
• Two or more cases within 14 days within a school building.  In this scenario, the District will consult with the health department to determine whether a closure is necessary.  The length of any potential closure will take into account whether the cases are linked to an activity outside of school.  If schools remain open, individuals in close contact are excluded from school for 14 days. If the school is to be closed, parents of children in that school will be notified of the school closure and the length of time.  

11-25 UPDATE: OCSD MESSAGE - COVID Activity Level Update

11-23 UPDATE: OCSD MESSAGE - Potential High Risk Status and Impact

Click Here for NJDOH Closure Information

OCSD Quarantine Timeline: Click Here

NJ COVID-19 Weekly Activity Report. This report can be found on the NJDOH website at: Click Here

Cape May County Department of Health 30-Day Summary of Cases: Click Here

NJ COVID-19 School-Related Outbreaks Dashboard: Click Here to View the NJDOH COVID-19 Updates Dashboard

Statewide School Outbreaks (11/9/20): 36 Outbreaks;  Cases Linked to School Outbreaks: 146

Cape May County School-Related Outbreaks (4th Highest County Outbreak in NJ): Confirmed Outbreaks: 3  Linked Cases: 10

Outbreak definition¹: Two or more laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases among students or staff with onsets within a 14 day period, who are epidemiologically linked within the school setting, do not share a household, and were not identified as close contacts of each other in another setting during standard case investigation or contact tracing.

In-school transmission³: Transmission between students and/or school staff that occurs on school property in the context of curricular activities

References

·          NJDOH, “Investigation Guidance for New Jersey Local Health Departments”, September 7, 2020

·          New Jersey Administrative Code, Title 6A, Chapter 16 2 and N.J.A.C.10:122 (Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers) mandate that each school district/child care center shall immediately report any communicable diseases that are identified as reportable pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:57 1, whether confirmed or presumed, by telephone to the health officer of the jurisdiction in which the school is located

·          Does not include transmission associated with extracurricular activities e.g., school sports team practices, social gatherings involving multiple students from the same school