Gov. Phil Murphy has ordered all schools to stay closed through at least May 15 amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

 

The state's more than 600 school districts will continue classes online. Murphy ordered the closures last month as part of an effort to halt the spread of the virus.

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Pennsylvania already closed schools through the end of the school year, but the governor is not taking that step just yet.

 

“We cannot be guided by emotion,” says Gov. Murphy. “We need to be guided by the facts on the ground, science and public health take us, and that means it will not be safe to reopen our schools or start sports back up for at least another four weeks."

The governor says the more people that continue to social distance over the next four weeks, the better chance there is of possibly re-opening schools before summer.