CORONAVIRUS

Austin school district to close facilities to public amid coronavirus response

Alejandro Martínez-Cabrera, amartinez-cabrera@statesman.com
Austin High seniors and best friends, clockwise from top left, Brooke Peterman, 17, Maddy McCutchin, 18, Lucia Saenz, 17, Reese Simek, 18, and Lily Tickle, 18, visit with each other in the parking lot at the school on Sunday. In the midst of a shelter-in-place order due to the coronavirus pandemic, the girls sat in the back of their cars to chat at a safe distance. [JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

The Austin school district will close its facilities and open spaces — including tennis courts, tracks, football fields, basketball courts and play fields — beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The measure is in alignment with the Austin and Travis County's stay-at-home order, school district officials said.

The district on Friday announced its 129 campus buildings will remain closed for an indefinite period to slow the spread of the coronavirus.The Austin district will wrap up the school year remotely through virtual learning, which began formally this week.

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