Prince George's County Public Schools will switch to virtual learning through mid-January due to COVID-19

Maryland's Prince George's County Public Schools has announced that the school district will shift to virtual learning until mid-January.

The school district's chief executive officer Monica Goldson said that the move is being made due to an increase in COVID-19 cases.

"In light of the stark rise in COVID-19 cases throughout our school system, all students will transition to virtual learning, effective Monday, December 20 through Thursday, December 23. Winter Break will proceed as scheduled, Friday, December 24 through Friday, December 31, and virtual learning will continue Monday, January 3 through Friday, January 14. In-person learning will resume Tuesday, January 18, following the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday; students in the K-6 Virtual Learning Program will return Monday, January 31," Goldson noted.

The move to virtual learning could be an unwelcome change for many parents.

Earlier this week, the school district had announced the closure of three schools.

Goldson had said that "the recent surge of cases locally, nationally and statewide is beginning to impact our ability to deliver instruction at various schools, leading to entire grades in quarantine and some school buildings to close. Today, we announced the closure of Benjamin Tasker Middle School, EXCEL Academy Public Charter School and Kettering Middle School. Students will remain in virtual learning until Monday, January 3.

"I am alarmed by the rising numbers across our schools: A two-day total last week consisted of fewer than 100 cases. This week, we saw a high of 155 cases reported in a single day," she noted.