(WWJ) Novi High School is moving to online classes only for at least this Thursday and Friday after nearly half a dozen students test positive for COVID-19.
In a memo posted to the school's website; Superintendent of Novi Community Schools, Dr. Steve Matthews, said five students at the high school have tested positive for the virus this week.
"The Oakland County Health Division has not completed its investigation and contact tracing," Matthews wrote. "To err on the side of caution, we need Novi High School students to be home Thursday and Friday."
School officials told WWJ they believe the students caught COVID-19 while outside of school, i.e. at social gatherings or in a carpool without masks, not inside the building.
The Oakland County Health Department will reach out to students believed to have come into close contact with those who tested positive, school officials said. If a family does not hear from the Health Department; their child was not believed to have been in contact with the students who are COVID-positive.
No information was given on the severity of the cases, or if they are asymptomatic.
Matthews said teachers will be in touch with their classes before Thursday to let them know what to expect.
The school will follow the normal bell schedule of 7:15 a.m. to 1:59 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.
"'A' hybrid students should log in Thursday to zooms/Schoology," the memo says. "'B' day hybrid students should log in Friday to zooms/Schoology."
Athletics and practices will also be postponed until at least September 20. The school's opening football game against Brighton was scheduled for Friday, meaning Novi will have to forfeit. The freshman and junior varsity games scheduled for Thursday night were also called off.
Related: Emergency Stay-Home Order Issued For Grand Valley State After COVID Spike
The changes only affect Novi High School. All other K-8 schools in the district will continue as normal and will stay on a regular bus schedule.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has compiled a list of outbreaks at colleges and K-12 schools statewide. See the full report here.




