We're in a global pandemic.

Public health experts recommend social distancing -- staying a certain distance away from others, staying home from work, etc. -- as a way to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Some school districts (in Seattle, for example) are shutting down for the next several weeks. Here in southern California, colleges and universities have already cancelled in-person classes.

In the Riverside Unified School District, however, public K-12 schools remain open. The school district has no plan to close them before the week-long spring break March 23-27.

While it appears that children are less likely to display the worst symptoms caused by the virus, experts seem to agree that they absolutely can be carriers of the virus, leaving their families and vulnerable populations who work with them at great risk.

Every day that RUSD schools continue to stay open is a missed opportunity to help slow the spread of the coronavirus -- a missed opportunity to "flatten the curve," as public health experts are urging all of us to do.

When confronted with a public health emergency of this scope and scale, every day counts.

The concerned community of the Riverside Unified School District -- including staff, parents and other stakeholders -- are calling on RUSD and Superintendent David Hansen to immediately close all schools in the district.

By doing so, we can reduce the pandemic's terrible effects on our hometown.

Stop wasting precious time. Close the schools immediately.