BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ - As expected, the COVID-19 cases reported in Berkeley Heights has soared with 119 positive cases reported since January 1, 2021 -- with 85 active cases at the time of publishing.
Mayor Angie Devanney posted on social media urging residents to "please wear a mask, DO NOT have INDOOR gatherings of more than 10 PEOPLE, use hand sanitizer frequently and socially distance. We do not want to lose another family member, friend or neighbor."
As of Monday, the High School Health Office had 20 reported active positive cases. Because of this uptick in number of reported cases at the high school, Gov. Livingston has delayed the start of NJSIAA Winter Season 2 (Boys and Girls Basketball and Boys and Girls Fencing) from Monday, January 11 to begin on Thursday, January 14.
The notice from Athletic Director Ann Clifton said, "By moving the start date to Jan. 14, 2021, it will also allow our local Board of Health and the GLHS Health Office to gain a complete perspective on the scope of this outbreak. The additional days will also assist with an understanding of the magnitude of our students that were exposed. The administration will work in coordination with the Department of Health and GLHS Health Office to fact find and make appropriate health-related decisions moving forward about our Winter Season 2 athletic programming."
Clifton advised students to get tested if you feel that you could have been exposed to COVID-19. "This is our first line of defense in stopping the spread."
In addition to getting tested, Union County Division of Health asks people to be receptive to answering their contact tracing calls and comply with the CDC guidelines set forth by government health officials including wearing face masks, maintaining social distancing, and staying home when sick.
Related article: Elementary Teachers Call Upon Board to Reconsider Jan. 11 Reopening Citing Safety Concerns Over COVID-19
COVID Resources
- The vaccinations at Kean University will take place Monday-Friday, 3PM-7PM. Registration is mandatory. Details can be found on the Union County COVID19 Vaccination page.
- Here you can find a list of free public testing locations in New Jersey by county, including short-term pop-up testing sites. You can search New Jersey's 400+ permanent testing locations, both public and private, using the test site finder tool here. Union County's free testing site is at Kean University.
- Tested Positive - Now What? Please call the Berkeley Heights Health Officer at (908) 518-5620.
- Contact Tracing Processes for Berkeley Heights Residents & Parents
- Close Contact: You are considered a close contact if you have been within six feet of someone with a positive test result for more than 10 minutes at least two days before their positive test if you didn’t have any symptoms, or two days before your first symptom appeared
- CDC Safety Protocols - Please continue to follow all CDC safety protocols outlined here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
- Visit the Berkeley Heights Township Website for COVID-19 updates.
