BREAKING: Gov. Cooper Says Schools Closed Through at Least May 15
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Clinical support technician Douglas Condie extracts viruses from swab samples so that the genetic structure of a virus can be analysed and identified in the coronavirus testing laboratory at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, on February 19, 2020 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Gov. Roy Cooper announced Monday that public schools in the state will be closed for in-person instruction through at least May 15. The Governor announced the change, along with a host of other changes to his executive order, in a news conference Monday.
. @NC_Governor: Therefore, today I will sign an executive order that closes public K-12 schools across North Carolina for in-person instruction until May 15.
— NCDHHS (@ncdhhs) March 23, 2020
. @NC_Governor: We arrived at May 15 by looking at the CDC and public health guidance, but as you know this is a rapidly evolving health crisis and if the guidance changes, we will adjust the order.
— NCDHHS (@ncdhhs) March 23, 2020
Of note from the news conference:
- 297 confirmed cases in the state in 45 counties
- Cases increasing and testing increasing, with at least 8,438 tests administered so far.
- 10,000 more tests waiting to be run
- “I’m not ready to give up on this year of school.”
- No more mass gatherings of 50 people or more.
- Hair and nail salons, barbers, gyms, many more facilities to be closed effective at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
- Grocery stores and restaurants providing take-out and delivery will remain open.
- State Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen: “We are in the top 10 states of testing that has been done.”
- North Carolina has requested for federal major disaster declaration.
- NC Superintendent of Public Instruction says over 1,000 locations have served over 1 million meals to students across the state.
- State encourages kids to be kept in a routine to help with remote learning structures.
- State board has sought a waiver to federal testing requirements for students for this school year.
More to come.
Brandon Plotnick is a former sports journalist, now living in the digital space with interests all over the musical and pop culture map.
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