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blamed on Covid-19... bringing the total to 15. Shaun Chaiyahbat is live with the state’s new resp

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Gov. Charlie Baker has issued an executive order that will further extend the closure of Massachusetts schools and nonemergency child care centers through the end of April amid the coronavirus outbreak in the state.On March 16, Baker ordered all schools to be closed for three weeks, from March 17 until April 6.Schools will reopen no earlier than May 4. "This will allow school districts to provide the best possible opportunities for remote learning to all students," Baker said. "This is not an extended school vacation. During this long-term closure, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will work with school districts to further develop educational programming students can use at home. This way, schools can prepare for their students' return in May.""We recognize this is a traumatic time for our kids," said Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley. "We want to get them settled, and then we want to get them into a routine."In addition, Baker extended the closure of all nonemergency child care programs until May 4. A week ago, Baker ordered most child care facilities to close on March 23, but emergency child care programs that were approved by the state were allowed to remain open.Emergency child care programs will continue to serve health care workers, first responders and other essential personnel who must continue to work during the COVID-19 outbreak, which includes grocery store workers.Baker said the Department of Early Education had approved more than 400 emergency child care programs, which have the capacity to serve more than 8,000 children."It's important to remember that these programs are for emergency workers and essential personnel only," the governor said. Child care providers impacted by the closures will continue to receive subsidy payments from the state so they can afford to reopen when the crisis ends, Baker said.This update comes after Baker met with his COVID-19 advisory group Wednesday afternoon, along with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. PHNjcmlwdCBpZD0iaW5mb2dyYW1fMF85MTUyMTg3My03NmRhLTQ0ZmUtOTA0Ny1mMTllZWFlZGFjNmQiIHRpdGxlPSJDb3JvbmF2aXJ1cyBpbiBNYXNzYWNodXNldHRzIiBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vZS5pbmZvZ3JhbS5jb20vanMvZGlzdC9lbWJlZC5qcz9yeXoiIHR5cGU9InRleHQvamF2YXNjcmlwdCI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+Cg==For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia or death. The vast majority of people recover.