The state says colleges and universities should begin submitting their reopenings plans, even though there is no date set for when they can officially reopen.

State officials say that these plans must be in place at least two weeks before students and staff can return to the classroom. The New Jersey Department of Health will review the plans.

When the institutes do reopen, there will be some mandatory guidelines in place. Social distancing will be required and all equipment and materials must be sanitized. Students and staff must wear face coverings while indoors and wearing them outdoors is suggested. Anyone who has an elevated health risk may wish to work remotely.

“Colleges this summer and fall will not look the same as they did last year. An equitable restart of operations has to be done carefully through an iterative staged process that balances the desire to move forward with concerns for public health,” says New Jersey Higher Education Secretary Zakiya Smith Ellis. “As we seek to ensure appropriate measures are in place so educational activity can continue, the health or staff, faculty and students will remain our priority.”

 

The state will be releasing more details on the safety guidelines. The governor says that the focus will be on safeguarding 10 areas: instruction, housing, computer labs, libraries, research labs, student services, transportation, dining, study abroad programs and athletics.

The statewide total number of coronavirus cases in New Jersey now stands at 167,703, after Gov. Phil Murphy just announced 330 new cases. The governor also announced 47 additional deaths, bringing the statewide death toll to 12,769.

 

For more on today's briefing, click here.