The Yolo County Office of Education announced that school closures will be extended through May 1, as schools work to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Schools in Davis, Esparto, Winters, West Sacramento and Woodland could reopen May 4 at the earliest.

The decision was in collaboration with public health officials, the office said.

Yolo County Superintendent of Schools Garth Lewis said the recommendation represents the current efforts by the state to reduce the number of people affected by the virus, and to comply with the county’s shelter-in-place order. The county announced on March 18 it would shelter in place until at least April 7 after two people in the county tested positive for coronavirus. The county as of Tuesday has 24 confirmed cases and one death from complications of COVID-19.

“Physical distancing continues to be the best strategy to achieve our collective goal of flattening the curve associated with the spread of COVID-19,” Lewis said. “The safety and wellness of students, families, school personnel, and the community is our highest priority.”

The five school districts in the county will begin distance learning programs in the coming weeks, Lewis’ office said.

Washington Unified School District in West Sacramento will begin distance learning on April 14.

“We understand that our staff and families may be experiencing difficulty in addressing both work and care of your student during the day while at home,” read a statement from Washington Unified Superintendent Linda Luna. “Please know that we share your urgency for ensuring our students continue to receive high quality instruction from their teachers.”

This story was originally published March 31, 2020 at 1:32 PM.