Georgia public schools will be closed at least until the end of March. Governor Brian Kemp today issued an executive order closing all public elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools in the state.
He cited newly issued federal guidance on how to deal with the coronavirus pandemic as the basis for his decision. Under the order, all public schools in Georgia will be closed March 18-31.
“This measure is critical to reducing local transmission in communities across our state, and I ask Georgians to continue to follow best practices – washing their hands regularly, isolating the elderly and chronically ill, and avoiding large events if possible – in the days and weeks ahead,” the governor said.
Habersham County Superintendent of Schools Matthew Cooper joined other superintendents across the state in implementing the order. “In accordance with this executive order, the Habersham County School System is extending the closure of all schools for students until March 31,” said Cooper.
As of noon on Monday, March 16, there were 121 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia, four of those are in Northeast Georgia in Hall and Clarke counties. One person has died from the virus since the outbreak started two weeks ago.
