Shoreline Public Schools To Close Due To Coronavirus

LAKE FOREST PARK, WA — Shoreline Public Schools will close all schools starting Thursday through at least March 27, in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, the district said Wednesday.

The announcement came hours after Gov. Jay Inslee announced a ban on group gatherings of more than 250 people as well as mandatory social distancing policies for all groups. Seattle Public Schools and the Lake Washington and Bellevue school districts also said Wednesday they would close for at least two weeks.

"As this situation changes by the hour, it has become clear that we cannot continue to address this issue with isolated, short-term closure of our schools," Superintendent Rebecca Miner said in a statement on the district's website. "At this time, we can no longer maintain staffing levels required to continue school operations across the district."

Schools will be open on Thursday to let students collect their belongings. Starting Friday, only administrators and other staff will have access to the schools.

Many district staff also fall into high-risk categories, and some have had trouble caring for their own families while serving the district's students, according to the statement.

For students who need meals, the district will offer food service at Central Kitchen and Shorewood High School from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each weekday. The district is also exploring childcare options, Miner said.

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At a press conference Wednesday morning, Gov. Inslee announced the state will ban public gatherings of more than 250 people through at least the end of March. Smaller gatherings will also be banned in King County if organizers cannot comply with social distancing orders, County Executive Dow Constantine said.

Meanwhile, King County confirmed 44 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, including four new deaths: three patients at Life Care Center in Kirkland and another from a Redmond nursing home.

The county now has 234 confirmed cases and 26 deaths, with at least 366 cases statewide.

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