Gov. Andrew Cuomo provides a coronavirus update during a press conference in Albany. AP Photo: Mike Groll/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday said schools and college facilities will remain closed for the rest of the academic school year amid the coronavirus pandemics.

The third-term governor says the schools will continue to provide distance learning and a decision on summer schools will be made at the end of this month. He said that if the state is erring, it is erring on the side of caution.

The decision to extend school closures had been at the center of a political spat between the third-term governor and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who traded barbs last month over who held the authority to close the country's largest school district for the rest of the academic year.

Overall, experts sided with Cuomo on the legal question over who held authority to extend the closure, saying executive orders issued by the Democrat give him wide legal latitude over public school schedules.