DEPEW, N.Y. — ​Depew Middle School has shifted to remote learning after an outbreak of COVID-19.

The Erie County Department of Health says there were 11 reported cases over the course of a week.

The school will be online for 10 days.

So far, the county’s contract tracers have not found evidence of in-classroom transmission.

The cases are currently being traced back to youth teams sports, within household and the community.

The health department says the multiple transmission sources raise the overall risk level within the building and that’s what led to their recommendation to switch to remote learning.

"With the confirmed positive cases and then the testing of other individuals that were symptomatic, they were concerned for the health and safety of the student body in that building," said District Superintendent Jeff Rabey.

This comes at a time when school districts and health departments across the country are looking at ways to let kids return to the classroom more regularly. 

"Disappointing, frustrating, deflating, when just last week on Friday the CDC came out with new guidance kind of giving us that light at the end of the tunnel and allow more students to come back," Rabey said. 

He adds that the district has been fully prepared to quickly move to remote learning. There was already a mix of in-class and at home instruction. 

Contact tracing for people who may have been exposed to the virus is ongoing.

"Just be smart and practice socially distancing," Rabey said. "Wear a mask and make sure you stay safe and healthy so that we can get back to school."

Students are expected to return to in-person classes after spring break on April 12.