4 P.M. MARCH 26, 2020, UPDATE: Alabama schools closed for the rest of year, instruction goes online

Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth is calling for Alabama schools to be closed for the remainder of the year as the state battles the spread of the coronavirus.

In a Thursday tweet, Ainsworth said the spread of COVID-19 is a “serious situation and calls for serious measures.”

Alabama School Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey “has done a good job protecting our students and families. I recommended he shut down the schools when he did in March. This week I recommended to him to shut down the schools for the rest of the school year. This is serious situation and calls for serious measures,” Ainsworth said.

Dr. @egmackey has done a good job of protecting our students and families. I recommended he shut down the schools when he did in March.This week I recommended to him to shut down the schools for the rest of the school year.This is serious situation and calls for serious measures. https://t.co/GLMnnODvIw — Will Ainsworth (@willainsworthAL) March 26, 2020

Alabama’s K-12 schools closed last week due to coronavirus. Mackey said he plans to release his recommendations on reopening schools at 4 p.m. today.

Originally, Mackey announced schools would reopen April 6.

A nonscientific survey posted to AL.com yesterday showed nearly two-thirds of the 4,100 who responded by 10 a.m. Thursday morning said schools should stay closed through the end of the school year. Just under 10% recommended schools reopen on April 6 as originally planned.

Just over a quarter of respondents said schools should reopen at some point before the end of the school year. The same nonscientific survey of readers showed just under a quarter of respondents said all learning should be optional, not required. Seven out of 10 said learning, directed by schools, should take place while schools are closed.