The Maryland State Department of Education is housed at the Nancy S. Grasmick State Education Building in downtown Baltimore. (msa.maryland.gov)
Maryland will close all its public schools for two weeks in an effort to halt the spread of the coronavirus, state Superintendent Karen Salmon announced Thursday afternoon.
All public schools will close from Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27, she said.
“All scheduled school-sanctioned travel for travel for students and staff will also be canceled, effective immediately,” said Salmon, who made the announcement during Gov. Larry Hogan’s scheduled news conference.
Ohio and Kentucky also said on Thursday that they are closing their public schools.
“It is crucial that we take immediate measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 in school communities around the state,” Salmon said. “During the time of school closure, all public school buildings and school buses will be cleaned and disinfected to prevent the spread of the virus upon the return of students and staff to school.”
