We are keeping all pertinent COVID-19 cancelations, closings and updates in one place.
The SJO FFA banquet scheduled for tonight has been cancelled. In an email to parents SJO FFA Advisor Darcy Nekolny said, “Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the SJOHS Administration has been advised to postpone tonight’s SJO FFA Banquet. This is an unprecedented event for our chapter, district, and community, so please be patient as we work through this postponement. I know this is not what any of the FFA members want, nor do I. If I had to guess, you as the parents and FFA supporters don’t either.”
Superintendent Brian Brooks said in a letter to SJO FFA parents, students and families that school superintendents were on a conference call with Julie Pryde from the Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department in regards to COVID-19.
Brooks said they were instructed to stay in school at this time but to cancel all mass gatherings of 50 or more people effective immediately.
The Champaign County Forest Preserve is canceling its Spring Break programs at the Museum of the Grand Prairie and the Homer Lake Interpretive Center due to precautions for the COVID-19 virus, said spokesperson Lisa Sprinkle.
The IESA has announced that the 7th grade state volleyball finals scheduled for March 13-14 will not be played as scheduled this weekend and all 8th grade state series are now suspended – this includes 8th grade regional championships scheduled for tonight, 8th grade sectional championships scheduled for Monday, March 16 and the state finals scheduled for March 20-21.
The SJO FFA banquet scheduled for tonight has been cancelled. In an email to parents SJO FFA Advisor Darcy Nekolny said, “Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the SJOHS Administration has been advised to postpone tonight’s SJO FFA Banquet. This is an unprecedented event for our chapter, district, and community, so please be patient as we work through this postponement. I know this is not what any of the FFA members want, nor do I. If I had to guess, you as the parents and FFA supporters don’t either.”
Superintendent Brian Brooks said in a letter to SJO FFA parents, students and families that school superintendents were on a conference call with Julie Pryde from the Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department in regards to COVID-19.
Brooks said they were instructed to stay in school at this time but to cancel all mass gatherings of 50 or more people effective immediately.
Heritage High School Drama Department is postponing its production of Guys and Dolls scheduled for this weekend. Director Justin Lee said they are working on make-up dates and will release that information as soon as possible.
The Heritage High School Washington DC trip is postponed. The tour company is now working on three options for all involved with a decision not due until April 30. The district will schedule a meeting on a future date with parents and also put together the details of the options the tour company has provided due to the national situation developing and there is time to decide.
The number of confirmed cases in Illinois now stands at 25, with six new positive tests announced Wednesday: five involving Chicago residents and one by a male from suburban Lake County.
There are no confirmed cases in Champaign County at this time, according to Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Administrator Julie Pryde.
Local Colleges and Universities
Eastern Illinois University
EIU is extending Spring Break to March 29. After Spring Break students will have the option to study remotely.
University of Illinois
The University of Illinois sent an email yesterday unveiling new policies for the universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield. Classes are being moved online to provide social distancing that helps limit the transition of the virus. This will be completed by March 23. Classes will be held at their currently scheduled times and students can study remotely from their homes or their campus residence after spring break. The University expects this to be temporary. Events with more than 50 attendees are suspended indefinitely starting Friday.
Parkland College
· The College has launched a new informational website, www.parkland.edu/covid19, aimed at informing the campus community about COVID-19.
Starting March 23, Parkland College will be shifting as many courses as possible to an online format.
Lecture components of all courses will move online beginning March 23, while lab and studio components of all courses will continue to meet on-campus.
The Parkland Child Development Center will remain open so long as it is safe for families and students. Leadership will communicate directly with Child Development Center families regarding any new developments.
The College will be minimizing large gatherings on campus for the duration of this alternate format.
Students, faculty, and staff returning from a CDC Level 2 or 3 country will continue to be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Athletics
The Big 10 Tournament has been canceled.
The NCAA has cancelled March Madness.
“Today, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships. This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.”
The Big Ten cancels all conference and non-conference competitions through the end of the academic year and announces a moratorium on all on- and off-campus recruiting activities for the foreseeable future.
St. Joe 8th grade volleyball regional championship match against Unity is canceled as is scholastic bowl for tonight.
The National Junior College Athletic Association announced it is postponing its upcoming Division I and Division II men’s and women’s basketball national tournaments because of coronavirus concerns, with a tentative start date set for Monday, April 20.
2020 Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon Race Weekend Postponed; new race weekend date sometime in the second half of the year.
IHSA Tournament updates
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced on March 12, that it will significantly limit attendance at the remaining games in the 2020 IHSA Boys Basketball State Series, as well as at other IHSA events, to preemptively reduce the potential spread of COVID-19.
The decision comes after consultation with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Peoria City/County Health Department, the latter of whom made the recommendation that no more than 60 spectators per school be allowed in the arena for each contest at this weekend’s Class 1A and Class 2A Boys Basketball State Finals. The IHSA currently plans to invoke the 60-spectator per school limitation across all remaining basketball games this season. Competing schools will be provided a protocol for determining who receives tickets.
Games impacted by this change include the 2020 IHSA Class 1A/2A Boys Basketball State Finals on March 13-14, as well as the remaining contests at the Class 3A and Class 4A Sectional, Super-Sectional, and State Final levels. IHSA State Series’ in Debate, Drama & Group Interpretation, and Scholastic Bowl will also operate under a similar premise, with those events being limited to competing students, coaches and essential meet personnel.
Full refunds will be available for any tickets already purchased for the remaining contests. Fans should consult the agency they purchased their tickets from to receive their refund.
The middle school state wrestling tournament, scheduled to take place this weekend in DeKalb, has been canceled.
Rantoul Indoor Invite set for this weekend has been canceled.
Local nursing homes
Clark-Lindsey has asked visitors under 18 to stay away from the facility and is canceling all outside community events that happen there. They also screen visitors for symptoms of COVID-19.
Windsor of Savoy are reminding residents of good hygiene habits and asking them to reconsider going to large gatherings.
Voting
Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons has announced that he will be closing polling locations that are located in long-term care facilities.
Clark-Lindsey in Champaign, The Glenwood in Mahomet and the Eagle View Retirement Home in Rantoul will not be polling locations next week.
Voters who usually vote at Clark Lindsey will no vote at St. Matthews Lutheran Church located at 2200 S Philo Road in Urbana, voters who use the Glenwood voters will now vote at Elk’s Pavilion at Lake of the Woods Park and voters who use the Eagle View Retirement Home in Rantoul will now vote at the Gathering Place located at 200 S Century Blvd. Rantoul, 61866.
Ammons is encouraging voters to take advantage of early voting and the vote by mail option to help prevent long lines and large numbers of people in one place on election day, March 17, 2020.
Early voting is open until March 16, 2020 or voters can call to request a vote by mail ballot.
Please call the Champaign County Clerk’s office with any questions 217-384-3720 or 284-3724.
Other events
Holy Cross Catholic Church, 405 W. Clark St., C, has canceled fish fries on Friday nights for the remainder of Lent: March 13, March 20, March 27 and April 3.
St. Patrick Catholic Church on Main Street in Urbana has also canceled the remainder of their Lenten Friday fish fries.
The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Banquet scheduled for March 24 has been postponed.
Siblings Weekend and Moms Weekend on the UI campus have both been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Illini Union announced today.
Visit https://www.facebook.com/CUPHD/ for updates.
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