Saying there are no signs that the coronavirus spread is slowing down and predicting it could become more aggressive, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh holds a 7 p.m. press conference Friday at Boston City Hall to announce city schools are closing effective Tuesday, March 17.

The mayor said the intention is to reopen the schools during the week of April 27.

"Now is the time to take bold action and slow the spread of this virus," Walsh says. Further details about dealing with impacts of the massive closures, which will upend the lives of scores of families, will be released on Sunday and Monday. There were 25 COVID-19 cases in the city, according to state reports. "We're going to make sure that our employees are compensated," Walsh said.