Mississippi schools will stay closed for the remainder of the school year as efforts to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus continue.

Gov. Tate Reeves made the announcement Tuesday afternoon during a press conference, but said students will continue their distance learning efforts already under way.

“School buildings in Mississippi will remain closed for the rest of the semester,” the governor said. “That does not mean school is cancelled. “No one wants to shut down our schools.”

The state’s schools were closed March 19 when Reeves issued an order to do so. The order was to have continued until Friday, but Reeves’ Tuesday announcement will keep children out of classrooms for the remainder of the school year.

Exactly what this means for graduation status or advancement to the next grade for students was not immediately clear. Reeves indicated the Mississippi Department of Education would provide guidance to school districts and parents soon.

“The vast majority of students are participating in learning today,” he said.

Reeves said he believed if students were following advice from their teachers, doing the work through distance learning, they should proceed to graduate or advance to the next grade.

“We will get through this, together,” Reeves said.