Ducey, Hoffman announce 2-week school closure extension amid coronavirus pandemic

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PHOENIX - Schools in Arizona will remain closed for an additional two weeks, according to Governor Doug Ducey and State Superintendent for Public Instruction, Kathy Hoffman.

According to a statement, schools will now be closed through Friday, April 10, 2020.

The school closure was originally announced on March 15, and was set to last through March 27.

"Our goal is to get kids safely back in the classroom as soon as possible while providing parents and educators certainty, so they can plan and make decisions," said Gov. Ducey, in the statement.

In the statement, Gov. Ducey and Superintendent Hoffman also requested schools to continue to adhere to a number of measures, including making every effort to provide continued education learning opportunities through online resources or materials that can be sent home, and working with the Arizona Department of Education to provide breakfast and lunch services for students.

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COVID-19 Symptoms

Coronavirus: What you need to know

Here are the need to know details about this virus.

Symptoms for coronavirus COVID-19 include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. These, of course, are similar to the common cold and flu.

Expect a common cold to start out with a sore or scratchy throat, cough, runny and/or stuffy nose. Flu symptoms are more intense and usually come on suddenly, and can include a high fever.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear more slowly. They usually include fever, a dry cough and noticeable shortness of breath, according to the World Health Organization. A minority of cases develop pneumonia, and the disease is especially worrisome for the elderly and those with other medical problems such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes or heart conditions.

Right now there's one big difference between flu and coronavirus: A vaccine exists to help prevent the flu and it's not too late to get it. It won't protect you from catching the coronavirus, but may put you in a better position to fight it.

To protect yourself, wash your hands well and often, keep them away from your face, and avoid crowds and standing close to people.

And if you do find yourself showing any of these flu or coronavirus symptoms - don't go straight to your doctor's office. That just risks making more people sick, officials urge. Call ahead, and ask if you need to be seen and where.