Schools and offices in one Union County district will close for the next two days after learning a staff member at one school came in direct contact with an individual diagnosed with coronavirus.

Roselle Public Schools will close Tuesday and Wednesday, “so that school and office buildings are sanitized effectively for the safety of all staff, students and families,” the district wrote in a statement posted to its website Monday afternoon.

"To be clear, there are no reported cases of coronavirus in our school district at this time," the statement read. "However, a staff member has reported making contact with someone who is recently diagnosed with Coronavirus. The school closure is a preventative measure until the individual is tested and results are provided.

“Depending on the test results, the district will operate on a half-day (early dismissal) schedule on Friday, March 13, 2020, for students only,” it continued. “All staff will remain at work to prepare for an extended closure due to this potential pandemic. If the results return positive, the district will extend the closure for a potential of 14 days.

All in-district extracurricular activities that involve community members, visitors, staff and students are canceled until further notice and all field trips are canceled as well, the district wrote.

Parents and guardians were advised to call their child's school with any questions or concerns.

Around the area

Schools elsewhere in Central Jersey were bracing for similar measures Monday, when the state reported five new presumed cases of coronavirus, which brings the state total to 11, Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver said at an afternoon press briefing.

Princeton University President Chris Eisgruber announced the school will move to virtual instruction on March 23, following spring break, and decrease the number of gatherings on campus.

"While much remains unknown about COVID-19’s epidemiology and impact, our medical advisers tell us that we should proceed on the assumption that the virus will spread more broadly and eventually reach our campus," Eisgruber said in a letter to students and staff. "They also tell us that the best time to put in place policies to slow the spread of the virus is now, before we begin to see cases on our campus, rather than later."

READ:Coronavirus closes school in China, kids learn online from NJ teacher

At Middlesex County College, spokesman Thomas Peterson said the administration has had discussions about moving classes online.

"As of now, we are not," Peterson said Monday afternoon. "As you know this is a fluid situation, so we are monitoring it constantly."

On Tuesday, MCC announced that "as a precaution," it is canceling the open house at the Perth Amboy Center scheduled for Wednesday and the open house at the New Brunswick Center scheduled for Thursday. The Summer Camp Open House scheduled for March 15 at the Edison campus also is cancelled.

Having cancelled its study abroad programs for the spring semester, Rutgers University has a website dedicated to the coronavirus outbreak. By March 7, President Robert Barchi had mobilized a task force of university leaders to prepare and respond to the situation and protect the health and safety of members of the Rutgers community.

On Monday, Barchi told professors that they should have remote lessons plans ready by March 23, which is when students return from spring break.

"While we have not yet made a decision to suspend face-to-face instruction, it is imperative that you take steps now to prepare for this possibility," Barchi said in his message. "All active instructors are expected to develop remote-instruction plans to complete the balance of the spring curricula and submit them for review by their department chairs by Wednesday, March 18. On March 19, chairs must report to their deans, who must in turn verify to their chancellors by March 20, that all faculty are prepared for a transition to remote instruction."

At Raritan Valley Community College where students and faculty are on spring break this week, the school has increased cleaning and disinfecting throughout the campus.

"As of now, classes are scheduled to resume next week," spokeswoman Donna Stolzer said. "However, we are monitoring the situation closely and have plans in place to respond quickly to any changes. The health of our students, faculty and staff is our top priority."

Rutgers spokeswoman Dory Devlin said the school is developing plans that anticipate probable scenarios of coronavirus’ effect on teaching, research, university events.

"As the situation continues to evolve, the Rutgers COVID-19 Task Force will provide updates to faculty, staff, students and all of the Rutgers community via multiple channels, including on the university's COVID-19 website," Devlin said.

South Brunswick school officials said they’re closely monitoring the situation and taking guidance from the New Jersey Department of Health and the CDC. The district closed schools for half the day Monday to prepare them and staff for any potential impact.

"We have been asked by the Department of Education to act with a precautionary set of protocols and to develop a plan should it become necessary for school closure where the day would still count as a school day for students," the district wrote on its website.

READ:Rutgers suspends study abroad programs in wake of coronavirus spread

In a letter sent to parents by Superintendent Scott Rudin, Cranford schools are planning to close Monday, March 16 for the district to make its own preparations.

"It is important to be prepared and doing so should not correlate to increased concern," Rudin wrote. "As always, the students and staff of Cranford are our number one priority and we want to do what is right for our students and be prepared should a public health-related school closure become necessary."

Currently listed on the school calendar as a single-session day, March 30 will now be a full day.

Montgomery schools also will close Monday, March 16 to prepare for potential coronavirus related closures, the district said in an email.

It will assess and plan for the "possibility to deliver virtual instruction to our students, should the need arise," as the "Department of Education has requested that New Jersey public schools submit a plan to the state to address the feasibility of virtual learning," it wrote.

Monroe will have a four-hour session day for students on Friday, so that staff can prepare for potential virtual learning. The after school program will operate as it normally does on an early release day on Friday and no lunch will be served, an email from the school district signed by Superintendent Dori Alvich said.

With Monday, March 16 already a scheduled professional development day for staff, Plainfield also will close Friday. A news release from the Plainfield School District March 10 said the closure is for students only as "teachers will meet to plan assignments for students in the event the district needs to close for an extended period of time due to COVID-19 concerns." Classes will resume Tuesday, March 17.

Sayreville Public Schools had a previously scheduled early dismissal Monday, as in-service day had been planned, said Superintendent of Schools Richard R. Labbe.

"This was a scheduled early dismissal day originally intended for our staff to participate in professional development," he said Monday. "However, based upon the current circumstances with regard to the Coronavirus, we are using the second half of the day today to review our school health-related closure preparedness plan with our staff and provide them with an opportunity to either receive training on the software that we will utilize in the plan or they can begin making their own preparations."

Metuchen School District, in a statement dated March 8 on its website, wrote its reviewing how teaching and learning will continue via a distance learning model if any mandatory closures are ordered by the state.

"Our administrative team is working with the teachers to prepare a plan for that possibility," it wrote.

Like many other school communities, East Brunswick Public Schools has a dedicated area on its website spelling out guidance related to COVID-19 and providing a link to the CDC website.

According to the latest update on the website, the district will be implementing or continuing to utilize individually wrapped food utensils in all schools, allowing extra time and encourage frequent hand washing with soap for 20 seconds or more during school hours, disinfect common use computer keyboards, use a disinfectant on all classroom desks and seating surfaces, as well as, finger and hand touch areas under desktops and seat bottoms and disinfect all school bus interiors daily including seats and handrails.

Previously, schools had put out notices encouraging recommended health protocols, such as hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, covering a cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue into the trash, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, staying home when are sick, except to get medical care and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

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.