Governor Ralph Northam ordered all Virginia K-12 schools closed for at least two weeks.
The move comes as COVID-19 cases in Virginia continue to grow.
Northam ordered schools to close starting Monday, March 16 through at least March 27. “I recognize this will pose a hardship on many families, but closing our schools for two weeks will not only give our staff time to clean and disinfect school facilities, it will help slow the spread of this virus," Northam said in a statement.
Northam said local school divisions will have control over staffing decisions and efforts to maintain continuity of services and learning.
Click here to read the complete announcement
Richmond City had planned to close before the Governor’s announcement. They’re sending kids home with library books and packets of work, and putting more resources online. Henrico County is doing the same. Many of their students also have school laptops they’ll get to take home. Andy Jenks is spokesperson for Henrico County Public Schools.
“Public schools, and a number of other places, are buildings and facilities where people mix and come into close contact with one another for hours at a time,” Jenks said. “And if the ultimate goal is to slow or prevent any community spread of illness then one thing that a school system can do is just shut it down.”
The state Department of Education is working with divisions to help provide educational resources, and in the event of extended closures the Department of Social Services will work with food pantries to help make sure kids and families are still getting meals.
Richmond Public Schools will distribute meals out of certain schools beginning next Monday. Families can go to any of the 20 school sites from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
More info here.
A private school in the Charlottesville area will close through April 3rd, based on what the school calls a presumptive case of COVID-19.
A message on the Saint Anne’s-Belfield School website says the case involves a preschool family.
The school says the case has not been confirmed by testing. But, based on consultation with health professionals, the school decided to close.
