All Nassau and Suffolk schools closed for 2 weeks amid coronavirus outbreak

All Nassau and Suffolk public and private schools will be closed starting March 16, County Executives Laura Curran and Steve Bellone announced Saturday.



"So today I am announcing that Nassau County will close all K-12 public and private schools for a two-week period starting tomorrow," Curran said. "I understand the gravity of this action and what it means for every community in our county."



Curran said her administration will continue to re-evaluate the situation as part of her containment strategy.

Administrators and teachers can still use the buildings for "distance-based learning" as well as for grab-and-go lunches, officials say.



Curran says she is also working with state officials to develop a plan for health care workers with school-aged children.



In addition to closing the schools, Curran said she is also suspending eviction enforcement in the county, saying it is wrong to keep people out of their homes during a public health crisis.



Nassau County's commissioner of health says while the order is in effect, he's asking students not to gather in large groups and enforcing his continued recommendation for people not to have large social gatherings, like weddings or parties, in an effort to prevent more community spread of the virus.



"It's not a good idea, even if it's young people getting married and having Sweet 16s, we know grandparents go to those events. We don't want to see a celebration lead to a funeral and that's really what we're trying to prevent," said Nassau Commissioner of Health Dr. Larry Eisenstein.

In a statement to News 12, Bellone said he made his decision in part based on a recommendation from Suffolk's health commissioner.



There are at least 98 confirmed coronavirus cases in Nassau County, at least 47 in Suffolk County and at least 729 cases statewide.

PHOTOS: The impact of coronavirus around the world