EAST BRUNSWICK – Public schools here will be closed through at least Sunday after a 58-year-old township woman was confirmed as testing positive for the coronavirus.

East Brunswick Superintendent of Schools Victor Valeski said in an email Wednesday evening that after an assessment Sunday evening, a determination will be made about reopening schools Monday.

All field trips, building activities, rentals, performances and athletics also are cancelled, Valeski said.

The patient has been hospitalized for several days, police said in a community advisory.

The township has instituted a comprehensive emergency response plan, in coordination with federal, state and county health officials, police said.

READ:Coronavirus in NJ: Two Middlesex County cases are in East Brunswick, Edison

Thursday and Friday will be designated as emergency closing days, as provided on the district calendar, Valeski said.

"I will continue to assess emerging conditions and will decide by late Sunday if we should remain closed through next week or longer," he said. "I understand the hardship that closing schools on such short notice places on our families. As always, the safety of our students and staff is our top priority."

READ:NJ Coronavirus: List of schools that are closed across Central Jersey

Valeski all district facilities and school buses will continue to be thoroughly clean and disinfected.

"Seek immediate medical attention if you or a member of your family exhibit symptoms associated with Coronavirus – fever, cough, shortness of breath," he said.

The number of people in New Jersey with coronavirus infections climbed to 23 on Wednesday, a day after the state's first death from the virus. It's been just one week since the first patient in New Jersey was diagnosed with the disease.

State officials reported the first signs that the illness may be spreading broadly in the community, noting that two of the most recent patients to be identified had no connections to any known sources of exposure.

All of the eight new cases are in hospitals, Gov. Phil Murphy said. Four are in Bergen County, two in Middlesex and two in Monmouth counties.

Updates will be provided at the district's website: www.ebnet.org and the township's Office of Emergency Management website: www.eastbrunswick.org/550/Coronavirus-COVID-19.

Email: cmakin@gannettnj.com

Cheryl Makin is an award-winning reporter for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her award-winning work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.