At his COVID-10 press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Charlie Baker announced that Massachusetts schools will remain closed throughout the end of the school year. Remote learning will continue.

“It’s the right thing to do with the facts on the ground,” Baker said.

Hopkinton superintendent Carol Cavanaugh emailed the schools community shortly after the announcement, writing, “I imagine this is difficult news to hear, and it comes with a sense of loss for all of us. We had certainly hoped to bring our students back into their classrooms prior to the June 17, 2020, date. Please know that Hopkinton’s counseling staff as well as Hopkinton Youth and Family Services are available to help anyone feeling the loss of our school community this spring.”

Baker previously had closed schools through May 4, but with the state “still very much in the grips of a pandemic,” and hospitalizations continuing to rise, he determined it was necessary to extend the order.

Non-emergency child care programs also are to remain closed.

Baker encouraged everyone to “continue to socially distance and stay home.”