Some New Jersey school districts are reconsidering plans to start in-person classes amid a worrying second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, while others press on with plans to bring students and staff back into classrooms.<\/p>\n
Dr. Stephanie Silvera<\/a>, Professor in the Public Health Department<\/a>, weighs in on this for the Burlington County Times<\/em>. “It\u2019s hard to say whether the current reported number of cases traced to schools \u2014 fewer than 100 \u2014 is a sign of success because of incomplete data,” Dr. Silvera noted.<\/p>\n Going forward, the number of in-person learners could grow as more schools open their doors and some families decide to switch from remote to in-person learning, Silvera said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe more people you come into contact with, the more you see a spread,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe risk is different by county,\u201d Silvera said. \u201cEssex, Hudson, Morris and Union have infection rates above 1.3%. Hunterdon and Cape May are significantly lower than 1. You still have to be mindful, but you do need to talk about this as a local issue and not just a statewide issue.\u201d<\/p>\n