Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco has ordered all public schools in the county to close as of 3 p.m. Friday amid concerns over coronavirus COVID-19.

Tedesco says that schools will then switch over to online and paper-based distance learning. Schools will remain closed until further notice.

 

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“With the continuing spread of COVID-19 throughout Bergen County, it is imperative that we take action and do everything in our power to protect our 1 million residents,” Tedesco said. “This includes our 75 school districts. which have almost 170,000 children; 16,000 teachers; and hundreds and hundreds of administrative, custodial and support staff.”

Bergen County has been particularly hit hard by the outbreak, with 13 “presumptive positive” cases of the virus, including five cases in Teaneck. The first case detected in New Jersey was a Fort Lee resident and the state’s first death was a Little Ferry man. Tedesco declared a state of emergency in the county earlier this week.

“While the CDC states that COVID-19 does not pose as great a risk to our children as it does to our older adult population, it is vital that we protect our children from the dangers of this virus or the community spread of this virus,” Tedesco said. “We are confident in the ability of Bergen County’s teachers, staff and administrators to successfully educate our children off-site, and are encouraging them to begin preparing lesson-plans as soon as possible.”

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