All Public Schools Closed

press release: Public Health Madison & Dane County is issuing a county-wide directive pdf  to close schools as of March 16, 2020, at 12:01am to mitigate the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Schools will remain closed until further notice.

“Schools play a crucial role in providing nutrition and other critical services to students, but they also pose a risk to children and staff with underlying health conditions and their closure can reduce community spread of COVID-19,” said Janel Heinrich, Director of Public Health Madison & Dane County. “Closing schools and canceling events are a disruption to our lives, but we believe these measures are necessary for the safety of our community.”

Wisconsin Statute 252 outlines a health officer’s authority to take “all measures necessary to prevent, suppress, and control communicable disease.” Violation of or failure to comply with this order is a crime punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both.

This is a rapidly evolving situation. For the latest information, visit the CDC’s coronavirus website , the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website , or the Public Health Madison & Dane County coronavirus page