WATCH LIVE - GOV. PRITZKER COVID-19 UPDATE: Gov. JB Pritzker will soon deliver his daily address on COVID-19 concerns. Posted by WREX-TV on Friday, March 13, 2020

CHICAGO (WREX) — Gov. JB Pritzker announces all Illinois K-12 schools will close in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.



Schools will close Tuesday through at least March 30th, with more than 2 million school students affected.



Pritzker made the announcement Friday afternoon from Chicago, saying the decision was not made lightly. He says that even though children seem to not be seriously impacted by COVID-19, they could spread the disease to vulnerable portions of the population.



Pritzker says families whose children rely on school-provided meals will be taken care of.



"Our state board of education has received the necessary waivers to continue to distribute two meals a day to children who qualify for free and reduced lunch through a combination of delivery and parent pickup meal options," Pritzker said.



Pritzker says the state is working with food banks and food manufacturers to serve the most vulnerable children.



As of now, all daycare centers will remain open.



On top of closing schools, the governor says everyone should do their part in containing the spread of the virus by staying home.



"This weekend if you can stay home, if you are able to telework, do so. If you don't have to travel, don't. This isn't forever," Pritzker said. "This is a sacrifice in the short-term to help our hospitals, our healthcare workers, our testing laboratories and our vulnerable and elderly residents. We have a duty to each of them."



Pritzker also that the state of Illinois will implement additional economic measures to reduce the burden on residents, including working with utility companies to keep them from shutting power off if residents can't pay their bills during this crisis.



13 WREX will update this article with more information, and will have in-depth coverage on 13 News at 5 and 6.