Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said the odds of students returning to school this year are “very unlikely" during a Friday radio interview.

Whitmer set April 6 as the possible re-opening date when she closed all K-12 school buildings, but that was changed to April 14 when Whitmer issued an executive order requiring people to stay in their homes. The governor, during an interview on WWJ Newsradio, said classrooms should stay closed while the number of COVID-19 cases continues to surge in Michigan.

“We are working diligently to come up with a plan to meet the needs of our kids," Whitmer said. "Anyone who is watching what is happening globally with this pandemic knows it’s probably very unlikely they’re going to get back in school before the end of this year.”

The governor said she “hasn’t made that call yet” because she wants to make sure there’s a plan in place that works for the needs of children across the state. Schools and local organizations have stepped up to provide meal assistance to families.

“It’s not something you develop overnight because we’ve got an inequitable system across the state of Michigan,” Whitmer said.

Whitmer’s orders apply to all public, private and boarding school buildings in Michigan. All public universities have canceled or suspended in-person classes.

The governor urged Michigan residents to stay in their homes to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The infectious respiratory disease has been found in 2,856 people, as of Thursday.

Sixty Michigan residents who contracted the coronavirus have died as of Thursday. Hundreds of new cases are identified each day, and health officials warn the number of cases confirmed so far are just a snapshot of the true total.

Read all of MLive’s coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.