CHICAGO — On Friday Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered the closing of every school in the state until March 30 starting Tuesday amid concerns over the spread of coronavirus.

Pritzker announced his decision in Chicago where more than 355,000 public school students will be affected. Statewide, nearly 2 million students will not be returning to the classroom.

The closing of schools comes the same week that many large universities in Illinois suspended in-person classes due to concerns about the virus.

On Thursday, the Illinois High School Association limited attendance at the remaining games in this year’s 2020 boys basketball tournament and other sporting events.