<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[The Equinox]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[http://fduequinox.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[fduequinox]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://fduequinox.com/author/fduequinox/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[N.J. Loosens COVID Guidelines for School&nbsp;Closings]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[
<p><strong>By Amaya Morales</strong></p>



<p>Managing Editor</p>



<p>It’s the start of a new semester! Today we will discuss new COVID-19 guidelines set for school districts across the state.</p>



<p>Let’s begin.</p>



<p>New Jersey state officials have released a new health guideline that has changed the rules for when schools should close if teachers or students start experiencing symptoms, <a href="https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/topics/NCOV/RecommendationsForLocalHealthDepts_K12Schools.pdf">according to</a> NJ.com.</p>



<p>The previous guidelines were criticized because entire classrooms would have to quarantine if multiple students or teachers were coughing or experiencing other COVID-19 symptoms, <a href="https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2021/01/nj-quietly-tweaks-covid-guidance-on-when-schools-should-close-heres-whats-changed.html">according to</a> NJ.com.</p>



<p>The revised guidelines now specify when schools should quarantine or close. New Jersey <a href="https://www.nj.com/education/2020/11/51-nj-schools-have-had-coronavirus-outbreaks-state-says-heres-why-that-number-seems-low.html">defines an outbreak</a> as “two or more confirmed COVID-19 cases involving students, teachers or school staff who contact tracers believe transmitted the virus to each other either in class or during the school day,” NJ.com continued.</p>



<p>Information regarding extracurricular activities like sports, clubs and assemblies have also been included.</p>



<p><strong>COVID-19 Numbers</strong></p>



<p>As of this morning, there are 5,272 new COVID-19 cases in NJ and 481 of those are in Bergen County.</p>



<p>The following are the latest COVID-19 cases for yesterday and today. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Mon. 1/25/2021</td><td>Sun. 1/24/2021</td></tr><tr><td>New Jersey</td><td>662,808</td><td>658,000</td></tr><tr><td>Bergen County</td><td>64,044</td><td>63,563</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p>*Numbers according to<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=nj+covid+19&amp;oq=nj+covid+19&amp;aqs=chrome.0.69i59j0i131i433l2j0i433j0i131i433j69i60l3.5418j0j7&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8#wptab=s:H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgVuLVT9c3NMwySk6OL8zJecTYwMgt8PLHPWGp8klrTl5jLOQS901NyUzOzEt1ySxOTSxO9clPTizJzM8T0uNic80rySypFFLhEpRCNUeDQYqfC1VISI2LA65XiotHikM_V9_ANC0rDaiYiwvO49nFxO2RmphTkhFcklhSvIhVxi-1XMErtag4tVLBOb8oPy-xLLOotFihGCQNABrAWL_CAAAA"> Google Statistics.</a></p>



<p>Stay tuned for more daily news updates tomorrow at 10 a.m.<em>Please follow us on</em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/equinoxfdu/"><em> Instagram</em></a><em>,</em><a href="https://twitter.com/EquinoxFDU"><em> Twitter</em></a><em>,</em><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/equinox-newspaper-a6a62295/"><em> LinkedIn</em></a><em> and</em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpknMbtf8DL56a9_AZbnsaQ?view_as=subscriber"><em> YouTube</em></a><em>. Write to us at equinoxfdu@gmail.com.</em></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><a href="https://fduequinox.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/add-a-headi-2.jpg"><img data-attachment-id="9667" data-permalink="https://fduequinox.com/add-a-headi-2/" data-orig-file="https://fduequinox.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/add-a-headi-2.jpg" data-orig-size="1280,720" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="add-a-headi-2" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://fduequinox.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/add-a-headi-2.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://fduequinox.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/add-a-headi-2.jpg?w=1024" src="https://fduequinox.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/add-a-headi-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-9667" srcset="https://fduequinox.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/add-a-headi-2.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://fduequinox.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/add-a-headi-2.jpg?w=150 150w, https://fduequinox.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/add-a-headi-2.jpg?w=300 300w, https://fduequinox.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/add-a-headi-2.jpg?w=768 768w, https://fduequinox.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/add-a-headi-2.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>The state has loosened its safety guidelines after concerns and criticism for school closings.</figcaption></figure></div>



<p></p>
]]></html><thumbnail_url><![CDATA[https://fduequinox.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/add-a-headi-2.jpg?w=1200&fit=440%2C330]]></thumbnail_url><thumbnail_width><![CDATA[440]]></thumbnail_width><thumbnail_height><![CDATA[247]]></thumbnail_height></oembed>