Update 6:45 AM: Academy of World Languages remains closed Wednesday.
Cincinnati Public Schools is canceling all domestic and international travel until June.
The district says the spread of COVID-19 throughout the U.S. prompted its decision. Yesterday the Ohio Department of Health confirmed there are three cases of COVID-19 in Cuyahoga county.
“We do not want to put anyone at risk. We are also concerned about students potentially being quarantined upon their return home from domestic or international travel. With the lengthy incubation period of up to 14 days, we must consider the safety of entire school communities," she said.
The Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Department of Stateis recommending people cancel their non-essential trips to multiple high risk countries.
223 students and 29 teachers were registered for trips abroad to Italy, England, and multiple other countries in March and April. CPS says it'll continue to monitor if changes to summer trips will need to occur.
CPS says it's pandemic policy has been updated to ensure the district is prepared in case it has to close schools.
An Academy of World Languanges teacher went into voluntary self quarantine Monday night which prompted the district to close the school on Tuesday. The district says there are currently no cases of COVID-19 in any of its buildings. Throughout the day, Superintendent Mitchell says the district has been doing a deep cleaning of the building and buses that service the school. "Right now we anticipate we'll be able to open it tomorrow," she says.
The district's curriculm will be posted to its website and take home packets will be handed out if students have to stay at home. Mitchell says the board will discuss meal programs to ensure students with food insecurities are fed even if school shuts down.
District representatives are at a citywide press conference to discuss COVID-19 preparation efforts. Mitchell says after the event the district will assess if AWL will be re-open tomorrow.