CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cuyahoga County Board of Health took an official position Thursday on playing high school sports this fall.

It is recommending they do not be played during remote learning, coinciding with last week’s decision by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

The recommendations Thursday from Cuyahoga County’s board of health follow steps already taken by Summit County Public Health and the Portage County Health Department, which suggest no sports be played before Oct. 1, but this one extends beyond a short postponement.

The Cuyahoga County Board of Health states health officials have investigated “multiple reports of clusters of cases in sports and other ‘return to play’” activities.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association remains on course for fall practices to start Saturday, although interim executive director Bob Goldring said in mid-July the organization is OK with schools opting out of competition.

“I think that has to be a local decision,” Goldring said then, “but we understand a lot of schools could see how they can offer one without the other.”

Northeast Ohio athletic directors were notified Thursday evening the OHSAA is not making an immediate announcement, but they “should expect” one sometime Friday.

Thursday’s recommendations in Cuyahoga County could throw the biggest wrench, so far, in the OHSAA’s ability to conduct fall sports with postseasons.

“I think it’s fair to say there’s a lot of concern what would happen to this organization if we don’t have fall sports,” Goldring said earlier in the month.

Firmer decisions have already been made at levels younger than high school.

Several youth football leagues in the Greater Cleveland area have already canceled play, and some programs have removed themselves from their leagues, according to a memo sent out July 20 by the North Royalton Youth Football League.

“At our league meeting on 7/16 communities like Wadsworth, Stow and a handful of others removed themselves from The Ohio Grid Iron Youth Football League for the 2020 season due to growing concerns over COVID-19,” the email stated. “We were also informed that recently The Suburban Youth Football Conference, which includes surrounding communities such as Strongsville, Brecksville and Medina have cancelled their league. The Lake Erie Youth Football League consisting of Buckeye, Fairview, Columbia and North Ridgeville to name a few, have also suspended their fall season.”

The North Royalton Football League, which canceled its season, added most high schools, “are staffed and somewhat equipped to handle whatever OHSAA deems necessary at that level. At the youth level we do not have the same luxury.”

Parma City Schools informed families Thursday all middle school athletics are being indefinitely postponed.

“Let’s hope that we can still have a fall season, however long it may be delayed,” Hillside Middle School athletic director Doug Ziemianski wrote in a letter. “As always, student safety is our No. 1 priority.”

Additionally, Parma City Schools superintendent Charles Smialek expressed displeasure with a “lack of clarity” from the state government about reopening schools.

“If the Cuyahoga County Board of Health comes out with a strong recommendation against opening schools, obviously we have some pretty important decisions to make,” Smialek told cleveland.com.

DeWine announced Thursday the state reported 1,733 new cases of COVID-19, the highest number in a 24-hour period this year.

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com).