PROVIDENCE — Gov. Gina Raimondo announced Thursday that distance learning will continue until the end of the semester.

“I had hoped to wind up in a different place,” she said at her daily coronavirus briefing. “But the data doesn’t support it. To take that much risk, it would be irresponsible for all of the people of Rhode Island.”

Calling it a tough decision, Raimondo noted that 39 other governors have decided not to reopen school buildings this year.

Speaking directly to the Class of 2020, Raimondo said, “I know it’s a bummer, and I’m sorry. This was your senior year and you were going to the prom, hanging out with friends and walking across the stage. Now, you’re stuck in your house.”

But Raimondo vowed to think up creative ways to make graduation fun and festive. And she said she wanted to hear what seniors wanted.

Rhode Island schools have been closed since Friday, March 13.

Her administration will partner with Rhode Island PBS to hold a special televised graduation ceremony, with more details to come.

Raimondo and state Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green praised students, parents and teachers for doing “an amazing job” with distance learning.

“Our participation rates have been truly remarkable,” Raimondo said. “We’ve seen over 90% participation rates every single day.”

“Rhode Island, we are going to get to 100%,“ Infante-Green said. ”We are leading the nation. Our young people are still hungry to learn.

“In my view, we have tapped into a deep well of energy,” she said. “Let’s turn our attention to finishing strong. We will be talking to you, students. We want to hear your ideas. As I approach my one-year [anniversary as education commissioner], this is one of my proudest moments. We haven’t given up on education.”

The governor also announced that the 180-day school calendar won’t change, that a statewide school calendar would set aside time for teachers to plan and receive training, and that summer programming would be offered in a more robust way.

Raimondo said the Rhode Island Interscholastic League will cancel the spring sports season, which had been delayed until May. The league said Thursday that it would make an official statement on Friday.

Raimondo said there will be an announcement next week about providing additional childcare for parents struggling to balance distance learning with their own jobs.

“I know it’s taking a toll on parents,” she said. “I hear you. Teachers are working more and harder than ever. We’re doing things together that we have never done before.”

Parents can now call the Highlander Institute at 904-414-4927 if they need help with distance learning.

Raimondo also announced that she will hold another news conference for children next Thursday, April 30, at 1 p.m.

In other matters, the governor addressed criticism about her comments Wednesday that people older than 60 might have to wait a little longer before resuming all of their regular activities.

“I’m sorry if I created confusion,” she said.

In a later teleconference with reporters, the governor said, “We haven’t made any guidance for anyone over 60.”

“We’re about to enter a new era of work,” she continued. “Some businesses will be doing temperature checks every day.... We have a legal team looking into these issues, but I won’t stand for any discrimination in the workplace. Discrimination is not allowed.”

In other news, the state Department of Health reported eight additional deaths from coronavirus, and 412 new cases. That brings the total toll in the state to 189 deaths and 6,256 total cases since March 1.

Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott said four nursing-home residents were among the eight most recent fatalities. She also said the state would be posting data later Thursday on coronavirus cases at specific nursing homes.

While the number of new cases was the highest reported in a single day, hospitalizations remained flat for the fourth day in a row.

There were 267 people in the hospital due to the virus, the Health Department said, down from 270 on Wednesday. Seventy-two were in intensive care, up from 71 on Wednesday.

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Some education leaders contacted Thursday reacted positively to the announcement that distance learning would continue through the school year.

“It’s important that we stay with with this,” said Tim Duffy, executive director of the Rhode Island Association of School Committees, in an interview earlier Thursday. “This going to be the new normal. This will give us time to rethink how we deliver instruction.

“Now we have an an opportunity for everyone to come together and figure how to deal with this going forward. Let’s use the time productively so we’re ready when full school returns.”

Tim Ryan, executive director of the Rhode Island Association of School Superintendents, said the news will free up some school districts to move forward with construction projects while schools are vacant.

“Everybody wanted a definitive answer,” he said. “The governor has done a phenomenal job of threading the needle. Had she called off school early, kids would have thrown in the towel and started congregating in parks.”

TO OUR READERS: This content is being provided for free as a public service during the coronavirus outbreak. Sign up for our daily or breaking newsletters to stay informed. Please support local journalism by subscribing to The Providence Journal.