DES MOINES, Iowa —

Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Friday that schools across the state would remain closed through the end of the semester due to Iowa’s continued COVID-19 outbreak.

The announcement came on the heels of Iowa’s largest one-day case increase. The Iowa Department of Public Health confirmed an additional 191 positive COVID-19 cases and 4 deaths.

Iowa schools first closed in March in hopes that they could reopen by the end of April.

During her daily news conference, Reynolds said it is still too dangerous to bring kids back to class and that there is not enough time to safely reopen schools before the regular end of the school year.

“I regret to say that Iowa schools will not reopen for this school year,” the governor said.

Reynolds waived the requirement that schools must start no earlier than August 23. Schools must continue to teach online and submit what she calls a “return to learn plan” by July.

The order also cancels springs sports at all schools.