Students in the Powell school district are out of class all week for a previously scheduled spring break, but it may be at least a couple more weeks before they return to school.

On Sunday afternoon, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow recommended that all Wyoming schools remain closed through at least April 3 — a period of three weeks — in an effort to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19.

The decision on whether to effectively extend spring break through April 3 will ultimately rest with Park County School District No. 1 leaders.

“Fortunately we have the cushion of our Spring Break starting to allow us to meet with our health officials tomorrow [Monday] morning,” PCSD 1 Superintendent Jay Curtis said Sunday night. “If I were to guess, I’d say closure is likely.”

However, Curtis said he wants to meet with Dr. Aaron Billin — who is the Park County public health officer — and other area superintendents before making a final decision.

Curtis said he would make an official announcement by Monday afternoon.

Schools in Cody had been set to remain open on Monday under a number of restrictions, but in-line with the new advice from the state, Cody school leaders decided on Sunday to close through April 3.

“While we do not have any confirmed cases at this time, we are taking preventative measures to reduce the possibility of spreading the virus,” said Interim Superintendent Peg Monteith. The district is evaluating the possibility of remote and online learning, she said.

The recommendations from Gordon and Balow follow Wyoming’s first confirmed case of COVID-19 on Wednesday evening in Sheridan County — a woman who had recently traveled to other parts of the country; a Sheridan County man linked to her was later diagnosed while visiting Colorado. Meanwhile, an older man at a Lander retirement center was hospitalized after falling ill with what turned out to be COVID-19, Friday testing revealed. State health officials said the man may have picked up the disease through “community spread,” meaning the disease could be present in the Lander area.

In recommending school closures on Sunday, Balow said that, “Evidence of community spread in Fremont County, two confirmed cases in Sheridan County, and pending tests from across the state have led us to this.”

“Wyoming has over 90,000 square miles where schooling is an essential function in each community — the decision is difficult,” she added.

In their release, Balow and Gordon said the recommendation to close all Wyoming schools “is not necessarily based on epidemiological best practices but is an attempt to allow schools and communities to prepare to operate in a way that mitigates community spread of COVID-19 and minimizes negative economic impacts locally and statewide.”

The governor and superintendent also urged district leaders to “work within their schools and communities to ensure the continuity of learning and essential services as determined locally.”

“In the midst of this pandemic, communities need the latitude, empowerment, and support to make difficult decisions that affect education, economy, and essential functions,” Gordon said. “While we safeguard the health of every person we must also do our best to continue our daily work for the economic security of our state and nation.”

Before Sunday’s recommendations from the state leaders, the Powell school district had already canceled nearly all after-school activities (including sporting events), field trips and other travel in an effort to combat the new coronavirus.

Additionally, following spring break, the district was set to implement a screening process for all school visitors — and asking staff and students who’d traveled overseas or to identified emergency areas to remain at home in “self-quarantine” for 14 days.

“We understand that not all members in our community may see this as a need, but we feel that these restrictions are essential for us to help slow the spread even when there are no confirmed cases in our area,” Curtis said in a Friday message. “Individuals are highly contagious LONG before they show signs or symptoms, and large gatherings are specifically dangerous for HIGH community transmission!”

While COVID-19 produces generally mild symptoms in most people who are infected, it can, in a small fraction of cases, be deadly; the elderly and people with chronic diseases are particularly vulnerable. Health officials are still learning about the disease, but say the initial indications are that COVID-19 is deadlier and more infectious than common influenza. There has given rise to concerns that, if the number of cases continue to spread exponentially, the number of sick patients could overwhelm the American healthcare system.

That’s why public health officials are urging precautions to slow the spread of the disease — including the cancellations of large events.

“Social distancing, basic hygiene, and heightened disinfection efforts continue to be the primary means to contain COVID-19 spread,” said the release from Gordon and Balow. “We strongly encourage everyone to continue these practices.”

Curtis said the Monday morning meeting with county health officials was scheduled prior to Gordon’s Sunday announcement. School superintendents also plan to meet with the Wyoming Department of Education Monday to discuss various details, such as waivers for school days, paying hourly employees through school closures and digital learning plan requirements.

Balow said she is exploring her ability to hold districts harmless from any financial reduction as a result of the instructional days being lost. In addition, the Wyoming Department of Education has received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allow schools to offer student meals during school closures.

(Tessa Baker contributed reporting.)