Governor Jay Inslee has ordered all K-12 schools in King, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties to be closed until April 24.

“This six-week closure is a decision that did not come lightly,” Inslee said. “Health officials have said closing schools could created a significant cut in the peak number of infections.”

Schools in those counties must be closed by March 17. Many schools and districts have canceled classes or moved classes online.

“This school closure is going to be tough on families,” Inslee said. “They’re going to be tonight trying to figure out child care.”

Inslee said the closure applies only to these three counties, but districts in other counties across the state should begin preparing for similar closures should they become necessary.

“We haven’t seen this in the state of Washington, in the United States, in 100 years,” said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal.

Just last week, Gov. Inslee and Reykdal said they were letting schools and districts determine whether they would close. That was based on recommendations from health officials who said children were not experiencing the same level of coronavirus symptoms and outcomes as adults.

“Things change,” Reykdal said in a news conference on Thursday.

Reykdal said it is important that we keep the health of students, their parents, and grandparents in focus by taking social distancing seriously.

The closures affect 43 school districts and 600,000 students and their families.

Reykdal said it’s been nearly impossible to ensure the continuity of services, especially across buses where many drivers are 60 years old or older. He went on to say that total attendance among students has dramatically dropped in the previous week.

Reykdal said districts will keep services going, including meals, and will be available even for people who have not previously had these services.

“Think about this next week as a spring break,” Reykdal said. “Districts need time.”

He encouraged all districts to seriously think about their futures regarding closures and distance learning.

“We have to be prepared that this is back in the fall or still with us in the fall,” Reykdal said.

“This is a moment where we can all be leaders,” Inslee said.