NJ Schools Restart, With Most Returning to Hybrid Lessons

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) —

Students across New Jersey started school Tuesday, with most returning to hybrid in-person and remote lessons, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy said.

The school-year shakeup stems from the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, which has resulted in nearly 195,000 positive cases and more than 14,000 deaths.

Murphy said 388 school districts opted for a hybrid model, which entails classroom and remote learning. There were 69 districts with all in-person learning, and 238 with all-remote starts. Some 28 districts have schools in them that went with a combination of those models, Murphy said.

There were about 280 new positive cases reported overnight, the governor said, putting the total at about 195,000. There were five deaths reported, leaving the death toll at 14,213.

The rate of transmission ticked up to 1.10 from 1.09 on Monday. The rate reflects the number of people an infected person passes the virus to. Murphy has set 1 as a benchmark for where he wants the figure to remain.

The reopening of school marks comes just after restaurants, bars and casinos opened for indoor dining at 25% capacity on Friday. Murphy said the administration would be watching for signs that virus trends continue to hold in the right direction.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms. Older adults and people with existing health problems are at higher risk of more severe illness or death.

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