Local schools announce closures amid coronavirus concerns
As cases of the novel coronavirus rise across the Delaware Valley, a number of schools have closed for deep cleaning.
Below is a list of school closures by state and county.
FULL COVERAGE: CORONAVIRUS
PENNSYLVANIA
LEHIGH COUNTY
The Allentown School District is closing Thursday, March 12 and March 13, for cleaning as an employee is tested for COVID-19. The closure is a precaution and there have been no reported cases in the Allentown School District. The school district plans to reopen on Monday, March 16.
PHILADELPHIA
Mastery Charter Schools announced that they will close Clymer Elementary School (1201 W Rush Street, Philadelphia) on Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13. The decision was made after learning that several students of the school traveled outside of the country in recent weeks.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Cheltenham School District
The Cheltenham School District announced that schools will be closed Tuesday, March 10 through Friday, March 13, after officials learned that a district parent was a caregiver to a patient with a presumptive case of COVID-19. The parent self-quarantined herself and her child.
Germantown Academy
Germantown Academy will also be closed through the end of its scheduled spring break due to coronavirus concerns.
In an email to families, school officials announced the school would be closed through March 30. The email came after a family member of a student-tested presumptive positive for COVID-19. The student also later tested presumpted positive for the virus.
Virtual classes are set to begin Thursday, March 12, and run through Tuesday, March 17.
Simmons Elementary
Simmons Elementary School in Horsham will be closed Thursday, March 12.
PHILADELPHIA COUNTY
Norwood-Fontbonne Academy (NFA)
NFA will be closed on Thursday, March 12, to Sunday March 15, to conduct extensive deep cleaning and disinfecting on both campuses on Germantown and Norwood avenues in Chestnut Hill. Parents have also been informed that parent-teacher conferences scheduled for Thursday and Friday are cancelled.
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NEW JERSEY
There are currently 11 presumptive positive COVID-19 cases in the state of New Jersey, officials announced Monday.
Late Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency and a public health emergency, effective immediately, to ramp up New Jersey’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The Trenton School District is closing all schools on Thursday, March 12, and Friday, March 13, to sanitize all school facilities as a precuation.
Princeton University said it was restricting large gatherings and urging students to take classes online.
Monmouth University, in West Long Branch, announced Monday night that all classes are cancelled for the rest of the week ahead of spring break, which begins Saturday. Officials said on Monmouth’s website that a student contacted health services at the school with flu-like symptoms. That student was taken to Monmouth Medical Center for evaluation. There is no update on that student’s condition.
Rowan University, in Glassboro, is extending spring break another week, through March 27.
Rutgers University is canceling classes from Thursday, March 12, through the end of spring break, Sunday, March 22. Beginning on Monday, March 23, all course instruction will be delivered remotely.
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