Area schools prepare for coronavirus

RITZVILLE - With a state of emergency declared due to the coronavirus outbreak, local schools are preparing for the epidemic to strike here.

On Monday and Tuesday, the Colville School District became the latest - and closest - school district to announce closures due to the virus that was first reported in the Wuhan area of China.

Eight districts canceled classes on 12 campuses in the last two days.

Colville's decision to shutter schools followed closures in Western Washington in both Everett and Kirkland. And it followed Gov. Jay Inslee's declaration of a state of emergency.

In larger cities,...