Hempfield Area High School is closed Tuesday through Friday after three students tested positive for the coronavirus.

School administrators were notified of the positive cases over the weekend, according to a letter to parents from Superintendent Tammy Wolicki, posted Sunday on the district website.

During the five-day closure, all students will receive remote instruction at home. Virtual attendance will be monitored, Wolicki noted.

She said the closure is in accordance with state guidelines that call for a school to shut its doors for five days if the county where it is located has a moderate level of community transmission of the coronavirus and between two and four positive cases occur in that school building over 14 days.

Families may pick up free meals for high school students 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day of the closure, at the main entrance.

District students who attend the Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center also will be restricted to remote instruction for the week, according to Wolicki.

“During the closure, the school will be thoroughly sanitized and disinfected,” Wolicki wrote. “The only individuals who need to quarantine are those who have been personally contacted by the Department of Health.

“It is important for students and staff to self-screen for symptoms every day. If you are symptomatic or may have been in close contact with a positive case, stay home and contact the school nurse immediately.”

All high school athletic and extracurricular activities also have been canceled for the rest of the week — including a varsity football game that had been scheduled Friday night against Central Catholic in Pittsburgh.

Andrew Macurak, assistant principal for student affairs at Central Catholic, said the school was aware of the posted cancellation and was awaiting further word from Hempfield athletics officials. He said it’s unlikely the game would be rescheduled.

Hempfield Area reported Friday that a member of the middle school football staff had tested positive for the virus, but there were no other staff or students who would be considered a close contact.

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