Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran has recommended that districts keep schools closed through May 1st as cases of COVID-19 continue to increase in the state.

Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) have already announced they will follow the recommendation and keep schools closed during April.

“Florida Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran has announced that schools will remain closed through May 1,” said ACPS Public Information Officer in a statement going out to all families through email, phone message and text. “This means the new target date for reopening schools is Monday, May 4.”

Corcoran originally closed schools through April 15th, when there were just over 200 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state. But as of Monday afternoon, there were over 5,400 confirmed cases.

Students across the state transitioned to remote learning today, after campuses shut down and will continue until at least May 1st.