Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday ordered Pennsylvania schools to close for the rest of the academic year in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
A growing number of states have shut down schools for the year amid the covid-19 pandemic.
“We must continue our efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus during this national crisis,” Gov. Wolf said. “This was not an easy decision but closing schools until the end of the academic year is in the best interest of our students, school employees and families.”
Today’s decision applies to all public K-12 schools, brick and mortar and cyber charter schools, private and parochial schools, career and technical centers and intermediate units. All Department of Education early learning program classrooms, including those for Pre-K Counts, Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP) and Preschool Early Intervention, will also remain closed.
Colleges and universities may not resume in-person instruction or reopen their physical locations until the governor permits them to open or lifts the closure of non-life-sustaining businesses.
Schools will remain closed though the end of the 2019-2020 academic year as it is defined by the local school calendar.
Under the state’s directive, schools could begin summer programming on the day after their academic year ends.
The governor had previously said that Pennsylvania schools would be closed indefinitely, following a March 13 order closing schools for two weeks.
There are currently 16,239 covid-19 cases in Pennsylvania. The Department of Health reported 70 new deaths among positive cases on Wednesday, bringing the statewide total to 309.
What is the rational for Gov. Wolf to close the state liquor stores? Yes, I know that liquor may not be viewed as an essential item, but consider this.Should the question be what is essential or what are the chances of catching the virus? If all employees wear gloves and masks and customers are required to do the same along with limiting the number of customers in the store at one time, there should be no problem.Likewise small businesses like dry cleaners should also be allowed to open using masks and keeping your distance.
Why is the governor making this decision so early? Completely irresponsible on his part. No reason whatsoever that he can wait until the end of the month or later to make this decision. I guess he will now be closing non essential businesses until mid June also. Poor decision making on his part. He is going to destroy our state.
Tell me again that power has not gone to this man’s head.
And the man actually has a smile on his face while he does it. And they say trump is on a power trip.