PHOENIX — Arizona leaders on Sunday announced the statewide closure of schools for at least two weeks because of the effects of coronavirus.

Gov. Doug Ducey and Superintendent Kathy Hoffman announced the move after a significant amount of school districts decided to temporarily close their doors in the past few days because of the spreading virus.

Schools will be closed from Monday until at least March 27, when officials will reassess the decision.

“As more schools announce closures and education administrators express staff shortages within their schools, now is the time to act,” Ducey said in a press release. “A statewide closure is the right thing to do. While this measure will not stop the spread of COVID-19, it will bring certainty and consistency in schools across Arizona.”

As recently as Friday, state health officials had made the recommendation that schools across Arizona remain open despite the virus.

We’re joining together to keep Arizona’s kids, families, and school communities safe and healthy. Arizona is united, and we’ll get through this. @Supt_Hoffman @azedschools #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/B5PbYldejp

— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) March 15, 2020

Ducey said that his office and the Department of Education were working to provide health care and meals to children during the school closures.

The Republican governor also penned a letter to Arizona families and others regarding the decision.

“We are committed to working together to minimize the impact of these closures,” Ducey said in the letter. “To that end, we are assembling resources and forming community partnerships that will reduce the impact of these closures on families, teachers and school communities.”

Arizona has seen 13 total cases of coronavirus since the first one was announced on Jan. 26.

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