Pleasant Valley High School will be closed on Thursday and Friday due to several students being diagnosed with COVID-19.

“Although the Monroe County COVID percent positivity rate is on the decline, reported positive COVID cases at Pleasant Valley High School for this week is at 10 cases,” said Superintendent Lee Lesisko.

Classes for the high school students will be held fully remote on Thursday and Friday. The high school will reopen on Monday.

Lesisko said the decision to go remote and close the high school is in keeping with the recommendations of the state Department of Health and state Department of Education.

The closure does not effect the middle, intermediate and elementary schools. They will remain on a normal, in-person schedule.

The rate of positivity in Monroe County has been declining from 17.3 percent to 16.5 percent most recently, the county has the second highest rate of positivity in the state. Wyoming County near Scranton is the highest.

The rate of positivity in nearby counties is 12.7 in Carbon and 12.6 in Schuylkill. In the Lehigh Valley, Lehigh County is at 10.2 percent and Northampton is 10.9.

Northampton has the highest rate of residents who are partially or fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at 47 percent. Lehigh County is at 44.8 percent, Schuylkill is 39.5 percent, Carbon is 38 percent and Monroe is 31 percent.