ROCKFORD, Mich. (WOOD) — The Rockford Freshman Center and Rockford High School will be closed for two weeks due to coronavirus cases.

Both buildings will be closed from Monday through Oct. 23. During that time, students will learn remotely.

According to the district’s website, 416 students grades 9 through 12 and staff members have been quarantined, and 19 students have been placed in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 over the past couple of weeks.

“I want the kids in the classroom, but the bottom line is: this is a pandemic. This is a virus. This is serious stuff,” said Superintendent Mike Shibler. “And I have the responsibility of the safety of 8,000 students and 1,000 employees plus all the people that come into our schools and I take that seriously.”

The announcement said the Kent County Health Department called for both buildings to be closed for two weeks in the hopes of stopping the spread of the virus, similar to what happened at Caledonia High School earlier this fall.

Shibler told News 8 that the health department staff were unanimous in its recommendation for learning to go remote for two weeks.

Monday, Rockford canceled its varsity football game scheduled for Oct. 9 after a player tested positive for COVID-19. Shibler says the district is hopeful students will be able to return for their final game of the season.

He says until a vaccine is readily available, everyone will have to be ready for whatever COVID-19 brings.

“Our priority here in the schools is the safety of our students, staff and our families and we’re doing everything we possibly can. But COVID-19 has a mindset of its own and will go wherever it wants. We just have to be diligent — all of us have to be diligent, carrying out practices that will keep us safe,” said Shibler.

Aside from varsity football, the school’s other fall sporting events have not been impacted.