CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cuyahoga County Health Commissioner Terry Allan refused Thursday to answer questions about Gov. Mike DeWine’s announcement that the county has been removed from “red alert” in Ohio’s coronavirus public health advisory system.

Cleveland.com sought to ask Allan whether the county’s downgraded orange designation – the second lowest level in the four-tier system – would prompt the Board of Health to change its recommendation that schools start classes with remote learning.

But Board of Health spokesman Kevin Brennan said Allan would say whatever he has to say about schools, many of which start classes next week, at a briefing already scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Friday and would entertain no questions on Thursday.

“We are presently reviewing this topic and the state order regarding sports,” Brennan said in an email. “We will have information to share tomorrow.”

The Board of Health’s five trustees, including board President Debbie L. Moss, a real estate and corporate attorney, did not immediately return calls or emails for comment. Cleveland.com will update this post when, and if, board members respond.

Also serving on the board are James T. Gatt, formerly senior vice president with National City Bank, and chief information officer of Ohio Savings Bank; Gregory Hall, a private practice physician and medical director for five local nursing homes; Doug Wang, retired senior vice president of the Northern Trust Bank; and Sherrie Williams, a pulmonary/critical care specialist and past medical staff president for The MetroHealth System.

Some other health departments and school districts have relied on the state’s updates as a way to trigger advisories and decisions on resuming activities. The Ohio Education Association, which represents 122,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals in K-12 and higher education, has asked that classes be limited in remote learning in red and purple counties.

The Cuyahoga County Board of Health on July 29 recommended that schools start the fall semester remotely and discontinue extracurriculars during the remote period, including sports. The county’s “red” status at the time was among the information cited by the board when it rolled out the recommendation.

This week, eight other counties remain at Level 3 red – Clark, Clermont, Erie, Franklin, Lorain, Lucas, Mercer, Preble and Trumbull, DeWine reported. Lorain County also moved to red for the first time this week.

The red designation means the counties are considered to have “very high” rates of exposure to and the spread of the virus. Cuyahoga County is now one of 50 counties at orange, meaning they have “increased” rates of exposure and spread.