On the heels of Gov. Greg Abbott's orders to close all state parks and historical sites to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, the Texas A&M Forest Service is closing William Goodrich Jones State Forest in The Woodlands area until further notice.

W.G. Jones State Forest as well as other forests and arboretums will temporarily close beginning 5 p.m. April 7 and will reopen upon direction from the governor, according to a April 7 news release from the Texas A&M Forest Service.

While state forests were not specifically mentioned in Abbott's directive, the Texas A&M Forest Service chose to follow behind the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to encourage adherence to social distancing guidelines, officials said via email.

Other state forests and arboretums included in the Texas A&M Forest Service closure are I.D. Fairchild State Forest, E.O. Siecke State Forest, John Henry Kirby Memorial State Forest, Masterson State Forest, Ruth Bowling Nichols Arboretum and the Olive Scott Petty Arboretum.