Gov. Jay Inslee has ordered all public and private schools in Washington closed beginning March 17 through April 24.

Washington now has 568 confirmed cases, as of Friday, with 37 deaths, in 15 counties.

“A county by county approach to this epidemic is not sufficient,” Inslee said. “We need to get ahead of this wave, and we need to do it today.”

Within half an hour of Inslee’s announcement Spokane Public Schools Superintendent Shelley Redinger issued a statement stating that “We as a school district recognize, and take very seriously, our responsibility to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students, staff, families, and the community.”

In the statement, Redinger also promised that the district will provide resources and materials to offer students opportunities to learn at home, including digital tools and other materials that individual teachers may send home with students.

“Engaging in these activities provides an opportunity for students to remain active with their learning until instruction and services provided by staff is continued. Responding to this situation is fluid and we will adjust our plan to support students as information becomes available,” Redinger said.

Redinger also said the district plans to provide childcare services for parents working in health care roles, first responders, and vulnerable populations.

“We will also be providing meals to all SPS students,” Redinger said.

The governor also restricted in-person activities and classes at public colleges and universities statewide, although many institutions will continue courses online. Inslee expanded the ban on gatherings over 250 people statewide as well. He has further restricted visitor guidelines at assisted living facilities and adult family homes statewide.

The gathering ban applies widely to sporting events, concerts, religious gatherings, conferences, events and fundraisers with more than 250 people.

Dr. Bob Lutz, Spokane County health officer, earlier in the day announced that events over 250 people will be canceled in Spokane County, using a bell curve to explain why canceling events now can help prevent the widespread number of cases of COVID-19 in the community.

If health officials do nothing, “you have a very, very rapid acceleration of cases as we are seeing internationally, nationally and locally,” Lutz said.

Thursday, Washingtonhad nearly 100 more confirmed cases than on Wednesday, and that number is expected to continue to climb. Currently there are 457 COVID-19 cases confirmed in the state, with 31 deaths attributed to the respiratory disease.

If health officials do act to curb the spread of COVID-19, they can lower the bell curve significantly, Lutz said.

“That’s our effort,” he said, pointing to the lower curve. “What we want to do is both slow the onset of illness and slow the impact and lessen the impact.”

So far, Spokane County has no confirmed cases of COVID-19, but health officials believe that there are cases in the community. Due to limited testing kits available statewide and nationwide, there are guidelines health care providers must follow in order to test people as well as a lag in test results getting back to county health districts.

Lutz likened preparing for COVID-19 in Spokane County to preparing for a flood, before it comes.

“If you know you have heavy rains all at once, the system will be quickly overwhelmed and you may not be able to recover, if however, you have the same amount of rain that slowly falls over a period of time, then the system can adapt,” Lutz said. “We have to be able to adapt.”

Ensuring the region’s health care system can care for those with COVID-19 who need to be hospitalized, which is the minority of those who become ill with the disease, is Lutz’ top priority.

“We are still ahead of the pandemic in our community, and knowing that by increasing preparedness actions now, we can slow the progression of COVID-19,” Lutz said.

Beyond canceling events, Lutz also encouraged social distancing in all gatherings, leaving at least six feet of space between people, in order to reduce person-to-person spread.

This morning Lutz did not recommend that schools be closed this morning, acknowledging that the ramifications of school closures would be “significant.”

The disease has not had a serious effect on young people and that short-term school closures have not been shown to be as effective at flattening the infection curve as measures such as “social distancing,” Lutz said.

Lutz added that schools also should be looking at how to modify how they provide meals for their students, “remembering that for many of our students, school meals are their primary source of nutrition.”

Additionally, superintendents and administrators should consider providing no-cost child care to families and to support students experiencing homelessness, Lutz said.

To limit the spread of disease, event cancellations and closures of services have been increasing. Here’s a local list that is being continually updated.

“This is an evolving situation,” Lutz said.

He encouraged people to stay home if ill and to have a plan if they have children in schools in case there is a need for school closures.

Spokesman-Review reporters Adam Shanks and Jim Allen contributed to this story.

This story is developing.