Gov. Charlie Baker extended the statewide closure of schools and non-emergency daycares through the end of April, saying they could open May 4 at the earliest — nearly a month longer than the the initial three-week shutdown was set to expire.

The new closure extends a week beyond scheduled spring break in most districts. Baker made the announcement Wednesday, noting it is "not an extended vacation" for students. He said the state will be taking measures to institute online learning opportunities in the interim.

Baker's administration suggested extending students' remote learning past technology, including exploring nature, activities to support students' communities – with appropriate social distancing measures – and engaging in hands-on projects and artistic creations that stem fro students' experiences.



Middle and high school students will be able to access educational programming on WGBH and WGBY from noon to 5 p.m. through a new partnership between the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and WGBH. Schools were initially set for an April 6 reopening. Baker had said the date would be revisited pending the coronavirus outbreak.

New state numbers released shortly after Baker spoke showed four new deaths related to COVID-19 and 679 new cases, by far the highest single-day leap. There are now 15 deaths and 1,838 confirmed cases in Massachusetts. The extended closures go well past the April 12 date President Trump recently said he hoped the country would be reopened.