(LANSING) – An organization is asking that schools around the state take short term steps to help slow down the spread of COVID-19.

Following Governor Gretchen Whitmer's media briefing Friday, the Michigan Education Association issued a statement. MEA President Paula Herbart says she is asking high schools across Michigan to switch to remote learning for the next two weeks. In addition, she is asking for all youth sports, both contact and non-contact, to suspend all practices and games for the next two weeks.

Herbart says the health and safety of Michigan students must be the priority of the MEA. As educators, nothing is more important, which is why the MEA fully supports Whitmer's call for in person high school learning, and for youth sports, to take a two week break due to rising COVID-19 cases.

Herbart encourages all school districts, community colleges and universities to take similar action at all levels.

Even though most pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade educators have received the COVID-19 vaccine, Herbart says the same can't be said for the students they serve.

Herbart says this current surge is a sign that people in Michigan need to unite in masking up, maintaining physical distance, avoid gatherings, get tested and get vaccinated.