The entire Jackson School District is going all-remote through Dec. 16 after district officials say buildings can't be fully operated due to new positive cases and quarantines.

According to a message posted on the school district’s website, the move is necessary because the newest positive cases and mandated quarantines reported today have brought them to the point where they cannot properly operate their buildings and departments.

The number of quarantined teachers also makes it impossible to continue in-person learning. Part of message says, “We are acutely aware of the hardship this presents to our families and we hope you can appreciate that we would not have made this change if it weren't absolutely necessary.”

The closure comes as schools across New Jersey saw an uptick in outbreaks, meaning at least two people were infected through the school. There has now been a total of 70 outbreaks and 285 cases, according to updated numbers from Wednesday’s COVID-19 dashboard.

But this does not mean the spread took place inside Jackson Township schools. The Ocean County Health Department repeatedly has said most cases occur from outside school settings, but still require proper quarantine measures.

Gov. Phil Murphy praised the efforts by all school districts during the press briefing and said the number of outbreaks in schools is lower than what state health experts had anticipated. 

Jackson schools are scheduled to reopen on Dec. 17.