Gov. Inslee announces closure of schools – including all Tukwila Schools

Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday afternoon, March 12, 2020, announced that all schools in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties will close for six weeks due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

Inslee’s order affects schools in the Tukwila School district, which will close effective Monday, March 16.

The order would shut down 43 school districts across the region, with classes scheduled to end no later than Tuesday, March 17, and remain closed until April 24. The first “return” day of school would be Monday, April 27th.

There have been no confirmed cases in Tukwila.

“However, because the health and safety of students, staff, and the community is at the center of the District’s priorities, we want to share with you information, resources, and examples of proactive steps the District is taking to help safeguard our school community’s health,” the district said.

The 6–week closure will apply to all K-12 public schools and private schools.

Inslee’s school closure order comes one day after he ordered a ban on all events with gatherings of 250 or more people.

Here’s a statement from the Tukwila School District:

On March 12, 2020, Governor Inslee ordered the closure of all schools in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties to begin Tuesday, March 17th.

However, following today’s new directive from Washington State Governor Jay Inslee, Tukwila School District will close all schools beginning Monday, March 16th through Friday, April 24th. The first day of school would be Monday, April 27th.

The Governor’s Office states that a brief closure (two weeks or less) of schools is not enough to affect a change in the infection rate of the virus. Guidance from the Governor’s Office, based on known data and epidemiological modeling, is to close schools for this extended period of time.

Tukwila School District nurses and administrators will continue to diligently monitor the worldwide outbreak and spread of respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) continue to remind us that the threat to the general public in Washington is considered low at this time.