Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has ordered all K-12 schools to close for 2 weeks starting Monday in an effort to contain virus.

The closure will last for 10 business days and is effective Monday, March 16.

The administration made the decision after working with school districts, as well as state and local officials.

The Wolf Administration will decide whether the closure should continue at the end of the two-week period.

The order affecting more than 1.7 million school children in public and private K-12 schools came as confirmed cases in the state leaped to 41 from 22, including the state's first cases west of the Susquehanna River.

Wolf a day earlier ordered all schools, day cares and other facilities closed in hard-hit Montgomery County.

All Catholic schools in the Diocese of Erie will comply with the order to close.

Gov. Wolf made the following statement:

We understand that these are trying times and recognize the impact of the coronavirus on our students and communities.
First and foremost, my top priority as governor – and that of our education leaders – must be to ensure the health and safety of our students and school communities.

As such, I am ordering that all schools in the commonwealth close for the next two weeks.

Be aware that no school district will be penalized if it fails to meet the 180 day or school hours requirements.

The Department of Education will work with intermediate units and other stakeholders to support school districts with any continuity of learning plans they may be pursuing.

Also, the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced today that it received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allow eligible schools to serve meals to low income students in a non-congregate setting, such as a drive-through or grab and go, during this closure. We will also work with schools to assist them with those plans.

We appreciate your collaboration as we work together to deal with this difficult issue.