Three schools in the Douglas County School District will return to fully remote learning Friday after several positive cases resulted in an outbreak at their respective schools.

The Tri-County Health Department, whose jurisdiction includes Douglas County, directed Castle View High School, Rocky Heights Middle School and Sierra Middle School to return to remote learning.

Earlier in the week, the health department directed Mountain Vista High School to return to remote learning that began on Wednesday. 

“We have had a number of people at our school test positive for COVID-19 over the past two weeks, resulting in more than five operate outbreaks within our school,” wrote the district’s health, wellness and prevention team in a letter to parents and staff members at all four schools on Tuesday and Thursday. 

Castle View, Rocky Heights and Sierra will be allowed to return to in-person learning beginning on April 23, while Mountain Vista’s students and staff will return on April 21, said Paula Hans, the district’s public information officer. 

Information regarding the exact number of students, teachers and staff members currently battling the virus at each school was unknown, said Gary Sky, a spokesperson for Tri-County Health. 

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s outbreak map that was updated on Wednesday did not show any outbreaks at the respective schools.

But despite the lack of data being reported by the state, the positive cases have resulted in “a large number of our students” being in isolation or quarantine at each of the four schools, according to DCSD. 

Anyone who was in close contact with someone who tested positive has been notified, Hans said. 

DCSD officials are urging parents, students and staff members to monitor their respective families’ health as this time, and to contact your medical provider if symptoms appear.