COVID-19 cases in both K-12 and higher education institutions in New Jersey have been trending upward since the second week of November, according to state data. This rise began after declines from case peaks from early in the academic year. Cases at colleges in universities peaked in mid-September. For K-12 schools, cases peaked in October.<\/p>\n
Dr. Stephanie Silvera<\/a>, Professor in the Public Health department<\/a>, noted that \u201cthere was a fairly dramatic increase in the number of cases.\u201d<\/p>\n However, while more information about pandemic trends is now being shared on the state\u2019s dashboard, it does not include every school or college.<\/p>\n Dr. Silvera said the state wants \u201cas close to 100%\u201d in terms of data collection and reporting to know if health measures are effective – one place where collecting all of the data can be helpful is when monitoring K-12 schools.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re talking about populations that are either only just recently eligible for vaccination or not yet eligible to be vaccinated,\u201d she said. \u201cUnderstanding those case rates so that decisions that are going to be upcoming about mask-wearing, for example, can be made in an environment of really understanding deeply what the situation truly is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think it guides us in a direction of what\u2019s been going on and what we can expect to continue,\u201d Dr. Silvera added.<\/p>\n