UPDATE: Oregon Gov. Kate Brown orders all schools to close until April to slow coronavirus

As state and local officials announce new measures to stem the spread of coronavirus in Oregon, schools face a host of tricky questions.

Gov. Kate Brown ordered the cancellation of gatherings of 250 people or more, including concerts, fun runs and weddings.

At the same time, both the governor and state health officials said school should remain in session. The governor reversed course Thursday night, calling for classes across the state to be canceled from March 16 until April 1.

Here are some common questions and answers about how Oregon schools are responding to the coronavirus pandemic:

What’s canceled?

School districts across the state have canceled assemblies, field trips, plays, concerts and other events that draw crowds.

Some sessions of SAT testing scheduled for Saturday are also being canceled, according to the College Board, which administers the college-entrance exam. The testing that was to take place at Parkrose High has been canceled, and the SAT session at McMinnville High has been moved to Newberg High, according to a College Board listing. College Board officials said they are allowing public health officials and local education leaders to make the call about whether or not to close test centers. The organization recommends that students scheduled to take the test this weekend check here to see if their testing session has been moved or canceled.

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Does that include sporting events?

The Oregon Scholastic Activities Association announced Thursday that high school playoffs for basketball are cancelled. But districts from Portland to Salem and Eugene said Wednesday evening sporting events will go on as planned but that the general public is banned from attending.

That move mirrors the NCAA’s decision to proceed with the collegiate basketball playoffs but limit attendance to family members.

Are schools closing?

Yep. Brown on Thursday demanded all public schools close from March 16 until April 1.

Until that afternoon, only three schools, two of them private high schools, have closed or announced closures since Oregon’s first presumptive case of coronavirus was announced on Feb. 28.

Forest Hills Elementary in Lake Oswego shuttered for five days after a school employee was confirmed to have COVID-19. The school reopened March 5 after crews in hazmat suits conducted a deep clean.

St. Mary’s Academy and Central Catholic High will shutter for weeks and move all classes online. Neither of those schools has been directly connected with a confirmed case of coronavirus.

Officials at the state and local level have cited a desire to maintain a sense of normalcy for underserved students. School breakfast and lunch are a lifeline for many kids across the state. Public health officials have said health care workers with school-aged children need to be free of pressures to stay home to the extent possible. And they have noted that children and teens generally experience mild or no symptoms from COVID-19, whereas sending them into the care of grandparents or other elderly caregivers could endanger that more vulnerable population.

What about sick students?

School districts across the state have advised both students and staffers to stay home if they feel ill or exhibit cold or flu symptoms such as coughing or stuffy noses. In Portland, district officials suggest anyone showing those symptoms to stay home for 24 hours after they subside.

Do national public health experts think holding school is a rash decision?

Generally, no. They have acknowledged it is a difficult balancing act, with closing schools and keeping them open both posing risks to children and the community at large. If a school has an employee or student test positive for the disease, that tips the balance further in favor of closing the school to prevent rapid spread, epidemiologists have said.

--Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano Do you have a tip about Portland Public Schools? Email Eder at ecampuzano@oregonian.com or message either of the social accounts above. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.

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