(CENTREVILLE) – The St. Joseph County ISD and the Superintendents of the County's school districts are united in what to do regarding COVID-19.

A joint letter was issued Wednesday by the Superintendents and the ISD, saying their top priority is to keep students and staff safe so that they can continue to learn in a face to face environment. And they are dedicated to doing everything they can to keep schools open and safe.

However, public health experts are reporting increases in positive cases of COVID-19 across the region and all of Michigan in recent weeks.

St. Joseph County ISD Superintendent Dr. Teresa Belote says the cases that have been reported in the County's school districts did not originate in the schools. LINKC.

If cases continue to trend upwards, the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is warning that schools may be forced to implement additional restrictions to prevent continued infections. Those restrictions may include cancellation or other mitigation efforts of extracurricular activities, such as athletics, band, choir and drama.

As a worst case scenario, schools may be asked to shift to a distance learning instructional model either periodically or for an extended period of time until cases decline.

To slow the spread of COVID-19, Belote and the Superintendents are asking the community to continue following safety guidelines: wear a mask while in public, stay home when you are sick, washing your hands often and social distancing.