All public schools throughout the state will remain closed until April 17.
Gov. Tate Reeves made the announcement Thursday morning during a press conference held via Facebook live.
Reeves made the decision in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“I will tell you, this is not a decision I take lightly,” Reeves said. “In fact, in my nearly 17 years of serving the public, this is perhaps the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make."
Pillow Academy and Carroll Academy have also both announced that school will remain closed for students next week.
Pillow Academy said the school's faculty and staff are expected to report from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily next week.
Pillow and Carroll will continue to evaluate the situation weekly, in keeping with the recommendation of the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools, to which both schools belong.
In the meantime, Pillow is finalizing a plan to implement distance learning for its students, starting next week.
The Mississippi State Department of Health reported 16 new cases of coronavirus in 12 counties throughout the state. Seven counties have their first coronavirus case, including Holmes, Jones, Smith, Walthall, Wilkinson, Winston and Yazoo. The state total now stands at 50, with 602 individuals tested.
Leflore County remains at four cases of coronavirus.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, and the vast majority recover in several weeks. But for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause severe illness, including pneumonia.
