Menlo School classes will be conducted only online through October unless “radical and positive” changes occur in COVID-19 cases, according to an email from Head of School Than Healy to the Menlo community on Aug. 5.

Health conditions will be reevaluated on Oct. 1 in order to determine if students may return to campus after Nov. 1, Healy wrote.

Factors that led to the decision to hold classes only online include San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties’ placement on California’s COVID-19 monitoring list, a “steady and disconcerting rise” in COVID-19 cases in the Bay Area and limited “crucial” testing availability, according to Healy’s email.

Throughout the email, Healy emphasized Menlo’s focus on providing engaging classes even over online classes, as well as the importance of following county health guidelines. Guidelines include washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer, maintaining at least a six foot distance between people and wearing a cloth face covering when going out in public, according to County of San Mateo.

Another update with more details will come from Menlo via email by Aug. 16, according to Healy, and individual class schedules will be posted in the middle of the week of Aug. 9, according to an email sent to high school students from Upper School Director John Schafer, who has returned to California from his sabbatical in Spain. The Coat of Arms will be meeting with Healy on Aug. 11 for a follow-up discussion to the Aug. 5 email.