Hempfield Area High School closing after 12 students test positive for COVID-19

WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — Another school in western Pennsylvania is closing temporarily due to the rise in coronavirus cases.

The Hempfield Area School District announced its high school will be closed until Oct. 26 after 12 students tested positive for COVID-19 over the past eight days.

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Officials said free meals will still be available at the high school throughout the closure between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. every day, but high school athletics are also canceled this week.

Westmoreland County is one of 12 counties across Pennsylvania classified by the state’s Department of Health as “substantial” for community spread. Health officials told the district that if the county remains at that level next week, they will recommend Hempfield move to virtual-only instruction to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

CLICK HERE to see the full release from the district.

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