S.C. schools to remain closed until end of April amid coronavirus outbreak
Public schools in South Carolina will be closed until the end of April, officials announced Tuesday.
The joint announcement — from S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster and S.C. Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman — extends by one month the amount of time students are away from schools.
The announcement comes as the number of S.C. coronavirus cases increased to 298, as of Monday afternoon.
The announcement follows a string of escalating government actions to minimize the spread of coronavirus. On Monday, McMaster called for people to refrain from gathering in groups of three or more.
On March 15, McMaster ordered all 1,250 public schools to be closed through the end of March. That Sunday afternoon announcement gave schools little time to prepare electronic and remote learning materials.
Since then, parents have been trying to balance their own responses to coronavirus, such as working from home and learning to function as teachers, according to a previous article from The State.
School districts statewide have taken steps to provide meals to their students. Some have arranged for buses with Wi-Fi capabilities to be available in communities where the service isn’t available. Most recently, Richland 1 rolled out a program allowing parents to get an entire week’s worth of free meals all at once, starting March 30.
Many colleges in the state, such as the University of South Carolina, had already canceled in-person classes for the rest of the semester, relying instead on online classes.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.