CAIRO — Grady County Schools will continue to offer free meals to students through April 23 after Governor Brian Kemp ordered Thursday that schools be kept closed statewide until late next month to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

More than 13,000 free breakfasts and lunches were distributed this week, nearly double the amount handed out last week. Superintendent Kermit Gilliard attributes the increased numbers to shifting the hours of operation later in the day after discovering that most students weren’t waking up early enough.

Additional changes to the formula will be made starting next week. In an effort to decrease exposure, food drop sites will only be open two days each week. Sites will open at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and remain open for at least 45 minutes. Students must be present in order to receive their meals.

No meals will be offered April 6-10 to account for spring break.

Food drop sites will be operational at Cairo High School, Eastside Elementary School, Northside Elementary School, Shiver School, Washington Middle School and Whigham School. Additional sites are located throughout the county.

Parents are urged to call 229-377-3701 if their child needs food but cannot travel to one of the sites.

Each child will receive four meals on Tuesdays and six meals on Thursdays. Adults may purchase a breakfast and lunch for $5 cash.

With schools not scheduled to reopen before April 27, students should expect to receive additional at-home assignments on top of the packets they received last week. Teachers are preparing additional work packets that will be ready for students to pick up at food drop locations April 14.

Gilliard said school officials are awaiting directions from the state as to whether to lengthen the academic year, currently scheduled to conclude May 22.