MANISTIQUE — Schools in the Manistique Area Schools district are closed until Oct. 8, following a surge in cases in and around Manistique Area Schools.

The closure began Thursday and was the result of a meeting between the LMAS Health Department Director Nick Derusha, the medical director, lead case investigator, lead contact tracer, regional epidemiologist, and local nurses.

“They determined that we have evidence to confirm transmissions are occurring within our schools. There is a concern about the positive number of cases in our district,” wrote Howard Parmentier, Manistique Area Schools superintendent in a letter issued Wednesday.

Meals will be available for all students and will be distributed on Monday, Oct. 4 and Thursday, Oct. 7 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Manistique Middle/High School.