Local cancellations and closures over Coronavirus concerns
Lazaro Aleman
Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.
As the concerns over the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread, several local events and gatherings have been canceled at the private, local and state level in order to prevent further contamination from the virus.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued a recommendation that gatherings of 10 people or more be closed or restricted, prompting several local and state-wide closures of events, businesses and schools.
Nationally, President Trump declared a national emergency over the coronavirus pandemic on Friday, March 13 and statewide, Governor Ron DeSantis has imposed various restrictions to contain the coronavirus outbreak as public life grinds to a halt across much of the country.
Experts advise five simple measures to help contain the virus individually. These measures are to wash hands often, cough into your elbow, don't touch your face, stay more than three feet apart from other people and stay home if sick.
DELAYED: Return to school from Spring Break.
On Friday, March 13, Florida Gov. DeSantis and Florida Commissioner of Education
Richard Corcoran ordered all public schools in the State of Florida to remain closed for an additional week after Spring Break.
“Keeping students healthy and safe is my No. 1 priority, and that is why we are recommending that districts follow the CDC’s guidance for Florida,” said Corcoran. “We are continuing to monitor COVID-19, and I encourage all Floridians to remain informed and take the necessary precautions that have been issued by the CDC.”
For Jefferson Somerset (the county's only public school), this means that students will begin online classroom instruction after their Spring Break.
In Jefferson County, Tiger students began their Spring Break on Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 20.
According to Jefferson Somerset, when Spring Break ends on Monday, March 23, online instruction will begin, but the campus will remain closed until Tuesday, March 31.
“This will include all before and after school clubs, activities and sports programs,” announced Jefferson Somerset staff. “This is a rapidly evolving situation, we will provide updates as they become available.”
According to Somerset Academy, Inc., the school will implement virtual remote learning operations, including delivery of online content and digital resources and teachers will utilize virtual communication and technology as a tool for their students' live online classroom instruction.
Students will continue to attend their classes, just from the health and safety of their own homes and they will receive live instruction from their current teachers.
These remote/virtual classrooms will require families to have internet access in their homes.
For more information, visit Jefferson Somerset's website at somersetjefferson.org or Somerset Academy's website at somersetacademyschools.com.
According to Jefferson County Superintendent of School, Marianne Arbulu, testing has been pushed back two weeks.
POSTPONED: County Commission meeting.
On Friday, March 13, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners announced that they would be postponing their Thursday, March 19 board meeting in response to COVID-19 concerns.
“While we understand that this may present an inconvenience to many, it is the responsibility of the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners, the Jefferson County Health Department and Jefferson County Emergency Management to protect our community from this significant health threat,” announced the County Planner Parrish Barwick in a letter for the commissioners.
Barwick added that while no new date has been selected, the monthly board meeting will likely be rescheduled for an April date.
This decision was made, Barwick wrote, in order to allow health officials more time to evaluate the virus.
“[The meeting has been postponed] until the first of April to allow additional time to review and gather better knowledge of this outbreak and the effects we may feel on the local level,” said Barwick. “Understanding this situation is changing by the moment.”
Meanwhile, the Jefferson County Planning Commission also cancelled its workshop that had been scheduled Tuesday evening, March 17.
POSTPONED: M-CORES Suncoast open house.
Residents who turned up at the First Baptist Church last week for the scheduled M-CORES Suncoast Connector Community Open House found a sign posted outside the fellowship hall door informing them of the event's postponement “out of an abundance of caution” related to coronavirus.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced the event's postponement via email and social media earlier on Thursday, March 12. But apparently, the word didn't get to some people either because they missed the message or lacked the necessary electronic devices, judging from the several who turned up at the fellowship hall and learned of the postponement from the posted notice.
The open house was intended to inform interested persons about the proposed toll road that is slated to come from Citrus County to Jefferson County, and to answer questions people might have about the project.
As of Monday, the FDOT had not rescheduled the open house. Nor had it indicated if it would proceed with the Suncoast Connector Task Force meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, at the First Church of the Nazarene in Monticello.
POSTPONED: Opera House shows.
In an email to its patrons, the Monticello Opera House announced on Friday, March 13, that two upcoming events at the opera house have been postponed with a pending rescheduling.
“We are monitoring the evolving health situation closely, following the lead of our city, state, and federal officials and implementing strategies recommended by public health authorities,” wrote Monticello Opera House Director Michael Herrin.
As a precaution, opera house staff chose to postpone the Four Friends with the Write Stuff playwriting workshop, which was schedule for March 20-22, as well as the El Gato Sin Amigos (The Nobody Likes Me Cat) children's show, which was scheduled for March 28-29.
“As of right now, all other performances and events at Monticello Opera House are proceeding as planned,” wrote Herrin, although he added: “Our plans may change as we respond to this rapidly unfolding health situation. We will keep you informed of any schedule changes on our website, our Facebook page and via email.”
To stay up-to-date on show scheduling changes, Herrin advises the public to contact the Monticello Opera House at (850) 997-4242 or by emailing director@monticellooperahouse.org.
The opera house's box office and front office will remain open with regular hours.
CLOSED: Jefferson County R.J. Bailar Public Library.
Jefferson County's librarians announced on Friday, March 13, that they will be closing the library to the public from Monday, March 16, through Wednesday, April 1.
“Based on the latest guidance from the Departments of Education and Health, as well as Jefferson County leaders, the library is closing to the public,” the library announced through social media on Friday. “The library building will remain closed until April 1, pending further guidance. We will miss you, but we are hoping to protect the health of our patrons and staff by taking this step.”
All events scheduled between that time, such as the St. Patrick's Day Party, Teen Club, Lego Night and more have been canceled, pending rescheduling.
During the time of closure, the library has assured its patrons that all late fees will be waived until further notice and that librarians are asking patrons who are currently in possession of checked-out books to keep them in their possession until the library reopens.
Librarians also reminded the public that the digital library will remain open.
Located online at ebooks.wildernesscoast.org, the digital library has several adult and children e-books that patrons can check out electronically; all library patrons need is the number on the front of their library card and the card's pin number.
While the library will be closed to the public, the librarians will still be in-office, so patrons can continue to contact the library should they have questions about the digital library, upcoming events or the reopening timeline, patrons can call the library at (850) 342-0205.
POSTPONED: Sheriff Hobbs Barrel Race
The 3rd Annual Sheriff David Hobbs Barrel Race, and its associated events, was decidedly delayed until further notice.
The announcement came on Monday, March 16 with a letter from Sheriff Mac McNeill.
The annual barrel race, which is held in honor of former Jefferson County Sheriff David Hobbs and is a fundraiser for the Jefferson Senior Citizens Center, is hosted annually by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
“Out of an abundance of caution and following the recommendations of the Florida Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control, we are postponing the Annual Sheriff David Hobbs Barrel Race, Boots and Badges and all associated events scheduled for early April,” announced Sheriff McNeill in a letter to the county.
This event has previously drawn in hundreds of participants to the barrel race, boots and badges party, karaoke night and other related gatherings.
Sheriff McNeill adds that the decision to delay the event was not an easy one, but was still a decision he felt necessary.
“We appreciate everyone for their understanding,” wrote McNeill. “The overall health and safety of our community is our primary responsibility.”
No new dates for the fundraising event have been announced, but Sheriff McNeill assured the community that new dates and times will be released in the future.
“We're just waiting to see how long this thing plays out,” added Sherri Dean, one of the community members who have helped host the annual barrel race.
Throughout the rest of the state, many school districts are taking a two-week Spring Break, and many popular tourist attractions around the country, such as Disney Land and Disney World, Coachella, and St. Patrick's Day festivities have closed or postponed for the time being.
The National Basketball League suspended their season after a Utah player was tested positive for COVID-19; the National Hockey League has also suspended their season.
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