Gov. Brian Kemp has ordered all public K-12 schools in Georgia to remain closed through Friday, Apr. 24.

"I am deeply grateful to State School Superintendent Richard Woods, the Georgia Department of Education, superintendents, and parents for keeping us informed and helping us make the right decision for our students," Kemp said in a news release. "Throughout this process, we will continue to seek the advice of public health officials, school leaders, and families to ensure the health and safety of the educational community. As we approach April 24, 2020, we ask for continued patience and flexibility since circumstances may change, but we encourage families to stay strong and follow the guidance of federal, state, and local leaders in the weeks ahead."

Kemp had previously ordered schools closed through the end of March, but in light of Athens-Clarke County's shelter-in-place ordinance, the Clarke County School District had already opted to extend closures through Apr. 7.

The last day of the school year is May 21.

The University of Georgia and other public colleges and universities have already decided to shift to online classes and close campus for the remainder of the spring semester.

The coronavirus crisis continues to worsen in Georgia, with 1,525 cases of COVID-19, 473 hospitalizations and 48 deaths reported as of noon today. That includes 24 cases and one death in Clarke County, seven cases in Oconee, four in Barrow, two in Madison and one in Jackson.