Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has not yet made a decision on whether to close K-12 schools for the remainder of the school year as the state deals with COVID-19, she told MLive in an interview Tuesday.

A report from Bridge Monday night said the governor would sign an executive order in the coming days. Asked about the report Tuesday, Whitmer said, “I have not made the final decision yet. So I’ll be making some decisions today and tomorrow and we’ll be announcing something on Thursday.”

On March 12, Whitmer ordered all K-12 school buildings closed until April 6, and later extended that closure until April 14. It was a decision that weighed heavily on her and has drastically altered the lives of families across the state.

Like her other orders closing non-essential businesses and ordering Michigan residents to stay at home unless they’re going out for something like food or medicine, it’s designed to stop the spread of COVID-19, a virus that has sickened at least 7,615 people in Michigan and resulted in 259 deaths.

"We have 1.5 million kids in Michigan who are in our schools. We have a virus that’s ravaging our state and taking our kids out of school was absolutely the right decision," she said.

But now we have to come up with a solution that meets their educational needs. And with the variety of districts that we have they have different challenges, they have different access to resources. And so all of these are pieces of the issue that we have to solve,” Whitmer said.

She said she’s been working with Republican and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate, along with the Department of Education, as she makes the decision.

“I think that it’s important that they are a part of the conversation, and that they are supportive,” she said.

But among the Michigan public, a decision to close schools for the rest of the school year may not be popular.

Opposition has already sprung up, including in the form of a petition signed by more than 30,000 people urging the governor and legislature to re-assess April 13 and then decide two weeks at a time whether schools can be open.

Some schools, however, are already making preparations.

Reeths-Puffer Schools Superintendent Steve Edwards told district parents and students in a video he has heard schools will close and is planning accordingly, promising there would still be a commencement celebration.

Under the current month-long closure, some school districts have offered virtual learning opportunities.

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.

Read more on MLive:

Michigan coronavirus cases now at 7,615; up 1,117 cases, 75 deaths in one day

Report: Michigan schools could be closed for remainder of year due to coronavirus

8 tips to keep parents and kids sane and safe during Michigan’s coronavirus outbreak

‘We’re going to get through this,' says Gov. Whitmer as she orders K-12 schools closed over coronavirus

How to talk to your kids about coronavirus