Schools in Northern Utah move to virtual learning

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KDXU) - More Utah schools are moving to virtual learning after officials' concerns with rising COVID-19 cases.

The Salt Lake City School District is moving East High, West High and Highland High to remote classes, starting Friday.

District officials say they hope to have students back in class on Wednesday.

The Granite School District announced Thursday night that all schools will move to virtual learning next week and students will be able to return to classrooms on January 24.

The Jordan and Alpine school districts announced plans for a few days of remote learning earlier this week.

State officials are also giving Utah school districts more flexibility to move to virtual learning during the surge in positive cases.

State leaders announced Thursday, they are suspending the state's Test-to-Stay protocols.

"Test-to-Stay was meant to be an early intervention to help reduce the spread of COVID, and it worked really well for COVID 1 & 2 if you want to call it that, but it's not working with Omicron," says Utah House Speaker, Brad Wilson.

Wilson says the two week suspension will allow schools to move to remote classes as soon as possible.

Lawmakers are also concerned that the need to do more testing in schools, could cause a shortage in COVID-19 tests statewide. A letter issued by the governor said the move will allow the state health department to focus testing resources on long-term care facilities and community testing sites.