Northern Ireland's Education Minister says one of the main reasons to keep schools open - is the impact on parents who are frontline workers.
A number of schools across the region took the decision themselves to close this week - in response to the pandemic.
However, the government is still advising schools to stay open.
Peter Weir told a Stormont Committee they WILL reach a point when they'll have to shut down - but he didn't give a definitive timeline.
He says a major conern is healthcare workers who will have to stay off work to look after their children.
