The Jordan (Utah) School District has shut down in-person classes at two of its high schools for two weeks because of outbreaks of Covid-19.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports that students at West Jordan High in West Jordan and Mountain Ridge High in Herriman will move to online learning at the two high schools beginning Thursday. Both schools are closed Wednesday, and there will be no online classes to give students and staff time to prepare for virtual teaching.
The Salt Lake County Health Department is tracking 26 active cases of coronavirus at West Jordan High and another 22 cases at Mountain Ridge High. The Utah Department of Health recommends that schools shut down if 15 individuals have tested positive in the same time frame.
According to Jordan’s numbers, two other high schools in the district have also exceeded the 15-case threshold — Copper Hills with 25, and Riverton High with 17 — but neither was closed for the two-week period recommended by health officials. Each of those schools closed for two days for “deep cleanings” and then reopened.
The district reports a total of 235 active cases of Covid-19; 2,123 people are in quarantine.
Students at Mountain Ridge and West Jordan will not be allowed in the school buildings beginning Wednesday; staff will be allowed in to collect instructional materials.
In-person classes are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, Oct. 27, after a previously scheduled fall break.
