LAKE PLACID — Lake Placid schools are going remote Friday for the half-day of classes left before the President’s Day holiday after an elementary school student, a middle-high school student and a support staff member tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.

In a message to families on Thursday, as well as a Facebook post on the district’s page, Superintendent Roger Catania said he plans to have students return to in-person learning when classes resume after the break, Thursday, Feb. 18.

Both buildings will undergo a deep cleaning on Friday.

Catania said both students attended classes during their infectious period, so the district is working with the Essex County Health Department to identify students and staff who may have been in close contact and will need to be quarantined.

“Neither case was contracted through school,” Catania said in his message.

Catania said the support staff member was not in contact with any member of the school community during their infectious period.

“We wish them (all) a speedy recovery,” Catania said.

Catania said any student identified by the Essex County Health Department to be quarantined can expect a phone call by the end of the day Friday.

“I’m sorry for the disruption this will bring to students, staff and families,” Catania said. “COVID-19 has been a disruptive force in our community and schools, but until now LPES has been fortunate to experience only minimal closure. Hopefully today’s situation will continue to represent a rare occurrence.

“Because this news has arrived so late in the day, we understand families may not have devices at home to participate,” he said in his second message.

He said these families should contact the school to let them know and work out a solution.