The Shawnee Co. Health Department has ordered all schools to suspend classes.

According to a release from the health department, schools will be closed for two weeks.

They have also ordered the cancellation of extracurricular activities.

“Early action to slow the spread of COVID-19 is a proactive approach to help keep staff, students, and the entire Topeka and Shawnee County community healthy.”

Shawnee County Health Officer Dr. Gianfranco Pezzino says schools are the ideal environment for the virus to spread.

"It's not because there is a high level of risk in Shawnee county. It's because there is a high level of risk in the school setting," he said.

“A large number of new infections within a short window of time (initiated by students and faculty unknowingly infected during their travels) could result from this situation and would potentially cause a large increase of cases in our community and put a strain on the ability of our public health and healthcare infrastructure to respond adequately,” they said in a news release.

News release: