SAN TAN VALLEY, AZ — The Pinal County Public Health Department is temporarily closing San Tan Foothills High School after a "cluster" of COVID-19 cases were discovered.
Officials say the cluster was identified on Friday and potential exposures were determined.
According to the school superintendent, it is believed that three teachers and two students have tested positive. The superintendent says one of the teachers is a volleyball coach, and the two students are on the volleyball team.
The school's onsite closure, contact tracing and quarantining have been determined as the most critical public health interventions for the school, according to PCPHD.
370 students and 20 teachers have been asked to quarantine for 14 days because of potential exposures.
The last known exposure at the school was Wednesday, October 7 and the onsite closure will be from Monday, October 12 through Wednesday, October 21.
Read the letter that was sent to parents below:
Officials say the closure could be extended if new school exposures are identified.
PCPHD says they are working closely with the school and the Florence Unified School District and are now evaluating the extent of the potential spread.
"The decision to close the school has not been taking lightly, but the primary mission of a Public Health Department is to protect the health of the community, and Pinal County Public Health believes closing onsite learning and activities at the school to be the most appropriate step in order to contain and stop the spread as quickly as possible," Pinal County Public Health said in a statement.
For more information on schools and those with known, reported coronavirus cases, visit our full section.
