South Brunswick library, schools change operations due to increase in COVID cases

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SOUTH BRUNSWICK – The South Brunswick Office of Emergency Management (OEM) issues a weekly report on positive coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the community. This report is compiled from data received from the Middlesex County Department of Health in conjunction with the New Jersey State Department of Health. It offers a snapshot of case activity over the past week and includes a graph to show the trends over the past nine months.

The township’s positive cases remain high for the second week in a row. This past week, officials were notified of 51 new residents testing positive. This number represents a 4% decrease in new cases than were reported last week, and is among the largest number of new cases reported in town in a single week since April, according to a statement provided on Dec. 1 by OEM.

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With more testing being conducted, officials anticipate increased cases over the coming weeks.

In addition, 14 additional cases were reported from previous weeks.

South Brunswick Township currently has 865 cases of residents who have tested positive. This number reflects both residents and people living in long-term care facilities within the township, according to the statement.

Statewide, 2,961 people are currently hospitalized due to COVID, a steady weekly increase since Sept. 21, when 349 individuals were hospitalized for COVID-19 throughout New Jersey, according to the statement. The number of hospitalizations for the past week has increased by approximately 10%. Middlesex County saw its number of residents with COVID-19 increase by 278 new cases over the past week.

Library Service Changes:  Contact Free Pickup

The South Brunswick Public Library has taken a step back in its phased reopening. Browse-and-Go hours have ended. Customers can order reading materials, audiobooks, DVDs and other items seven days a week for contactless pickup at the library. The library will continue to provide virtual services and digital collections.

For pickup details, hours, and information on how to request items, visit www.sbpl.info/sbpl-contact-free-pickup/

For an overview of all available library services, visit www.sbpl.info/services-update/

School Changes:

South Brunswick Township public schools are currently in virtual learning mode, with no students or teachers in the buildings until at least Dec. 14, though that date may be extended further due to the course of the pandemic.

Through Jan. 2, all youth and adult sports are being placed on a full pause as per the governor. Exceptions are made for collegiate-level and professional teams.

Travel advisory:

A total of 46 states and territories are now on the Travel Advisory list. The only states not on the list are Connecticut, Delaware, New York and Pennsylvania. The New Jersey Department of Health recommends not traveling outside of New Jersey unless there is a need to cross state lines for work, school, worship or other essential travel.

Updated state guidelines:

Indoor sports practices and competitions, including group, competitive and/or organized sporting activities for youth and adults, will be prohibited starting Dec. 5 until Jan. 2. This prohibition will not impact collegiate and professional sporting activities. Private fitness classes, lessons, and trainings at gyms, studios and similar locations are permitted to continue.

Wedding ceremonies, funerals, memorial services, and religious and political activities are not subject to the outdoor gatherings limit. All other types of gatherings, such as a high school football game or an outdoor concert, will be limited to 25 individuals. Athletes, coaches, referees and other individuals necessary for a professional or collegiate sports competition are not counted toward the 25-person limit.

For other adult and youth sports occurring outdoors, the number of individuals necessary for a game or practice can exceed the 25-person limit, but only if no individuals who are not necessary for the event, such as spectators, are present.

Outdoor gatherings continue to be subject to strict social distancing restrictions, including the requirement to wear masks whenever it is not possible to social distance.

Indoor meetings of addiction groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, are not limited to 10 individuals, but will instead be limited to 25% of the capacity of the room in which they take place, up to a maximum of 150 individuals.

Restrictions on gatherings, effective Dec. 7:

  • Indoor gatherings are limited to a maximum of 10 people
  • Outdoor gatherings are limited to a maximum of 25 people
  • Exceptions are made for religious services or celebrations, political events, weddings, funerals, memorial services, performances, judicial and legislative proceedings

Dining – Outdoor dining will not be affected

Testing locations:

To find a testing location, visit https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/testing#test-sites

The Middlesex County Health Department offers free COVID testing. To schedule an appointment, visit www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Government/Departments/PSH/Pages/COVID-19–Testing.aspx

SOUTH BRUNSWICK COVID TRACKING NUMBERS

Week

Positive Residents

Average Age

Male / Female

Under Age of 18

03/15 to 03/21

7

03/22 to 03/28

20

03/29 to 04/04

28

04/05 to 04/11

90

44 years old

42 male, 58 female

1

04/12 to 04/18

64

04/19 to 04/25

80

04/26 to 05/02

67

05/03 to 05/09

28

05/10 to 05/16

25

05/17 to 05/23

15

05/24 to 05/30

12

44 years old

4 male, 8 female

1

05/31 to 06/06

5

42 years old

4 male, 1 female

0

06/07 to 06/13

12

34 years old

5 male, 7 female

3

06/14 to 06/20

6

49 years old

3 male, 3 female

1

06/21 to 06/27

10

46 years old

6 male, 4 female

1

06/28 to 07/04

11

46 years old

5 male, 6 female

2

07/05 to 07/11

10

44 years old

4 male, 6 female

0

07/12 to 07/18

4

22 years old

2 male, 2 female

0

07/19 to 07/25

4

36 years old

1 male, 3 female

1

07/26 to 08/01

10

39 years old

5 male, 5 female

1

08/02 to 08/08

7

37 years old

4 male, 3 female

0

08/09 to 08/15

8

42 years old

5 male, 3 female

0

08/16 to 08/22

13

27 years old

10 male, 3 female

0

08/23 to 08/29

8

30 years old

3 male, 5 female

0

08/30 to 09/05

8

39 years old

5 male, 3 female

0

09/06 to 09/12

18

35 years old

9 male, 9 female

1

09/13 to 09/19

7

38 years old

4 male, 3 female

0

09/20 to 09/26

6

41 years old

1 male, 5 female

0

09/27 to 10/03

20

33 years old

11 male, 9 female

2

10/04 to 10/10

14

22 years old

10 male, 4 female

3

10/11 to 10/17

6

30 years old

3 male, 3 female

0

10/18 to 10/24

29

35 years old

15 male, 14 female

6

10/25 to 10/31

30

40 years old

16 male, 14 female

3

11/01 to 11/07

24

30 years old

13 male, 11 female

5

11/08 to 11/14

41

39 years old

17 male, 24 female

6

11/15 to 11/21

53

38 years old

26 male, 27 female

5

11/22 to 11/28

51

39 years old

22 male, 29 female

11

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