ELK GROVE, Calif. — Millions of students across the U.S. may go without free lunches and breakfasts they receive at schools, as more districts decide to close due to the coronavirus.

Many schools are rushing to arrange grab-and-go lunch bags or set up delivery routes so America's poorest children don't go hungry while classes are out of session. The outbreak has already temporarily closed schools in a growing list of states, including Ohio, Maryland, Michigan, Illinois, Virginia, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico and South Dakota.

Cities from Los Angeles to Seattle to Washington, D.C., also announced public schools would shut down.

Meanwhile, Congress may take action to waive regulations nationwide to make it easier for school meals to be distributed at more sites.