Coronavirus School Closings In North Carolina: List

NORTH CAROLINA — A growing number of North Carolina school districts have announced long-term closures amid growing concern over the new coronavirus. All schools in the University of North Carolina system are also transitioning from in-person instruction to online instruction.

As of Friday afternoon, there were at least 15 confirmed or presumed positive cases of the new coronavirus in seven counties around North Carolina, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Those counties include: Mecklenburg, Cabbarus, Forsyth, Durham, Chatham, Wake and Johnston.

Some local school systems have already implemented some limited closures in specific areas to deal with recent presumed positive and confirmed cases of COVID-19.

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During a press conference Thursday, Gov. Roy Cooper said that while state health officials did not recommend preemptive school closures at this time, they did recommend schools and day care centers cancel or reduce large events and gathering, such as assemblies, cancel field trips, limit inter-school interaction and consider distance and online learning options.

“School dismissals may be necessary when staff or student absenteeism impacts the ability to remain open,” the NC DHHS said Thursday. “Short-term closures may also be necessary to facilitate public health investigation and/or cleaning if a case is diagnosed in a student or staff member.”

“Right now, we’re keeping the public schools open, and that is at the guidance of our public health officials,” Mark Johnson, North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction, said Thursday. Each of the state’s 115 individual school districts are being encouraged to work with their local health officials in making decisions, he said.

“We have been in contact with federal authorities, and we are learning from other states who are going through this currently on what steps they have taken, if heaven forbid we would have to close schools,” Johnson said.

Here's a look at which North Carolina school districts have announced closures:

• Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools — Teacher workdays scheduled for March 16 - March 18. Spring Break is March 19 through March 27. Distance learning March 30 through April 3.
• Orange County — schools closed from March 16 through April 3
• Durham County — schools closed effective March 16
• Cardinal Gibbons High School, Raleigh — Beginning Tuesday, March 17, the Catholic school will transition to distance learning through March 30. The school's Junior/Senior prom, athletic and fine arts events have been postponed. All field trips have been canceled.

In the Charlotte metro area, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools remains operational, however school officials announced that all high school athletics were suspended through April 6, and middle and K-8 athletics canceled indefinitely. Also canceled are all school-based events before or after school hours, competitions, the CMS Career Fair and district-sponsored community meetings.

Several schools in Charlotte metro area have announced closures:

• Community School of Davidson— Teacher workday on Monday, March 16, with a transition to remote learning on Tuesday, March 17.
• Iredell-Statesville Schools — Spring break is extended for students March 16 through March 20.
• Providence Day School — Teacher workday March 13. Spring break is March 16 through March 20, which will be followed by distance learning.
• Charlotte Country Day School — Teacher workday March 13. Spring break is March 16 through March 20, which will be followed by distance learning.
• Charlotte Latin School — Teacher workday March 13. Spring break is March 16 through March 20, which will be followed by distance learning.

Know of a closing not listed here? Let us know! Send an email to kimberly.johnson@patch.com.

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