Wisconsin closes all schools to prevent spread of coronavirus pandemic
Source: Green Bay press gazetts
Samantha West and Alan Hovorka, Appleton Post-Crescent Published 4:38 p.m. CT March 13, 2020 | Updated 5:46 p.m. CT March 13,
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MADISON - In an attempt to limit the spread of coronavirus in Wisconsin, all public and private schools will shut down for two weeks.
Gov. Tony Evers on Friday directed the state Department of Health Services to mandate all K-12 schools to close starting Wednesday. Schools may be able to reopen on April 6.
The drastic measure has serious implications for unprepared school officials scrambling to make plans to continue instruction, and for families across the state from parents without child care to low-income children who rely on schools for food and other social services.
Closing our schools is not a decision I made lightly, but keeping our kids, our educators, our families and our communities safe is a top priority as we continue our work to respond to and prevent further spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin, Evers said in a statement.
Public health officials reported 11 cases of the new coronavirus in Wisconsin Friday, bringing the states total to 19 on a day when President Donald Trump declared a national emergency.
Global deaths due to COVID-19 passed 5,000 deaths on Friday, according to the Johns Hopkins University global case dashboard.
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While school closures may make sense from a public health perspective, administrators must weigh many other factors, including the prospect of children being left alone if a parent cannot stay at home with them during the day. Some parents could lose their jobs if they stay home to care for their young children.
Some children may not have access to the internet and may not be able to complete online instruction, or they may have to go without the free and reduced lunch and breakfast they rely on Monday through Friday.........................
Read more: https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/education/2020/03/13/wisconsin-schools-required-close-prevent-spread-coronavirus-pandemic/5041148002/#//
whow. WI only had 7 cases Wed. Now up to 19
bucolic_frolic
(42,651 posts)Or maybe they get the headlines.
Evolve Dammit
(16,632 posts)lees1975
(3,718 posts)with a Democratic governor. But Ohio has also closed schools and their governor is a Republican. Too many people know trump is bonkers on this.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)This time of year is brutal for Colds and Flu in Wisconsin. Been there and know first hand what I say.
Talitha
(6,476 posts)Snowmobile season up here is over and DH says fishing season doesn't open for another 2 months. I was dreading the upcoming tourist invasion but hopefully IF the whole country bottles up quickly and keeps a tight lid on, maybe (hopefully?) our Nation's spike in the graph won't skyrocket like Italy's did.