Students and a parent pick up a meal and their iPads for leaning at Overbrook Elementary in Charleston last Monday.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state’s largest school district announced Sunday night that after five days of delivering bagged meals to students out of school because of the coronavirus the service would be discontinued.

A message to families from Kanawha County Schools said the decision was reached in connection with several developments.

“Given the Governor’s direction for everyone to stay home and due to current conditions and limitations brought by the spread of COVID-19, we are discontinuing bagged meal service. We value the health and safety of our employees and also of the volunteers who’ve been supporting us,” the announcement said.

Kanawha County Schools said in a Monday morning tweet the decision was made by the school system not the governor.

KCS canceled the feeding program to support our employees and community members who are worried about their health. We are moving forward on investigating alternate plans for our students. — Kanawha County (@KCBOE) March 23, 2020

The school system said it would investigate other ways to feed students.

“For the time being, the feeding program will be halted and our support services as a district will continue through our counselors, social workers and other staff,” the statement said. “If you have a need that is not being met during this time of school closure, please call your school, the district office or call 2-1-1 on your phone to reach The United Way help line.”

The school buses are off in Kanawha County @KCBOE at GWHS to drop off lunches for students while school is closed. The buses go on their normal route. @WVMetroNews pic.twitter.com/BT9zsVQggt — Jake Flatley (@JakeFlatley) March 16, 2020

Several other school systems in West Virginia have announced adjustments in their feeding schedules.

For right now schools are closed through Friday, March 27, in connection with the coronavirus, but state School Superintendent Clayton Burch has said school systems were preparing for that to be extended.

Charleston, Kanawha County want Justice to take the next step

A Sunday night letter from the City of Charleston and Kanawha County Commission asked Gov. Jim Justice to issue a mandatory stay-in-place order for the state.

MORE read letter here

“Social distancing and staying home have proven to be critical in stopping the spread of this virus. We are respectfully asking Governor Justice to order a mandatory stay-in-place order as so many other states have done,” said Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin. “Putting this mandate in place would give our first responders and hospitals valuable time to acquire needed equipment before they are potentially overloaded with patients.”

Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper echoed Goodwin’s comments.

“The expected spike in the COVID-19 virus in our area is occurring and time is running out to flatten the curve. We must take action now to help protect our healthcare professionals and first responders,” Carper said.

Kanawha County maintenance workers spent Sunday sanitizing the county’s Judicial Annex after the county learned one of the workers there had tested positive for coronavirus. Access will be limited to the building beginning Monday. Other workers who came in contact with the infected worker have been contacted.

Kanawha County Clerk Vera McCormick announced Sunday night her office would be conducting business by telephone and email only. The Kanawha County Solid Waste Authority announced Sunday night its office would be closed effective immediately.

Two of the confirmed coronavirus cases in Kanawha County came from residents who traveled outside the state to funerals. Kanawha-Charleston Health Department Executive Director Dr. Sherri Young urged Sunday that funerals in Kanawha County be kept at 10 people or less.