Maryland extends school closures to May 15

Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon announced Friday that schools in the state will remain closed until at least May 15 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“After extensive consultation with the state board of education and leading public health experts in the state, I am extending the closure of schools through May 15th,” Salmon said at a news conference. 

Salmon also announced that the state board of education received an additional $45.8 million from the federal CARES Act to support child care programs for essential workers. 

“With regards to the remainder of the school year and the summer, we will use this time to examine every option, and continue to develop a long-term plan for recovery,” Salmon added. 

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) also announced Friday that school buildings will remain closed through the academic year and that remote instruction will end late next month, rather than June 19.

And Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced that schools in his state would remain closed for the rest of the school year while other aspects of life would begin to reopen gradually. Iowa also called off school for the rest of the year on Friday.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who chairs the National Governors Association, said Thursday that this week “would be the worst possible time” to lift coronavirus restrictions. 

“Here in the Washington-Baltimore corridor we’re still heading up that curve … It would really be the worst possible time to put our people out there and endanger them,” Hogan said on NBC’s “Today.”

Starting Saturday, face coverings will be required in Maryland inside retail establishments and while riding public transportation.