Inslee orders closure of all schools in state as virus death toll climbs to 37
komonews.com/news/coronavirus/gov-inslee-orders-closure-of-all-schools-in-state-through-april-24
OLYMPIA, Wash. - Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday ordered the closure of all public and private schools in Washington state through at least April 24 as the novel coronavirus tightens its grip in the region.
The number of deaths in the state has climbed from 21 on Monday to at least 37 on Friday, and the number of presumed cases has grown from 162 to at least 569 over the same time period, Inslee said in a Friday afternoon news conference. He earlier said the actual number of cases is likely much higher.
Previously the governor had ordered the closure of all schools in the Seattle area for six weeks. His new order dramatically expands that to every school across the state, from kindergarten through 12th grade, affecting 1.2 million students.
The closure order takes effect on Tuesday and continues through April 24, with the first possible day of regular school classes on April 27.
Inslee said the coronavirus outbreak has now spread to 15 counties in Washington state, where 70 percent of the state's population lives.