UPDATED: Event cancellations around Houston due to the coronavirus outbreak

The Houston Art Car Parade Weekend is one of many recent events cancellations due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Houston Art Car Parade Weekend is one of many recent events cancellations due to the coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Yi-Chin Lee/Staff Photographer Photo: Yi-Chin Lee/Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 60 Caption Close UPDATED: Event cancellations around Houston due to the coronavirus outbreak 1 / 60 Back to Gallery

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12 p.m. March 20

The Houston Chronicle's interactive tracking map shows there are 334 confirmed novel coronavirus cases in Texas and five deaths as of Friday afternoon. While events, meetings and offices shut down by the hour, a shelter-in-place order for Harris County has not been issued yet, but County Judge Lina Hidalgo has not ruled it out yet.

See below for the latest updates on cancellations and closures:

All social gatherings are limited to no more than 10 people, and bars and restaurants statewide are closed through April 3 after Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Thursday. The order also applies to visitation at nursing homes and assisted living facilities and effectively closes gyms and massage parlors.

All Galveston beach park public service amenities are closed, including amenities at East Beach, Stewart Beach, Seawall Urban Park, Dellanera RV Park and Seawolf Park, the Houston Chronicle's Nick Powell reports.

The Houston Ballet Spring Nutcracker Market scheduled for April 17-19 at NRG Center has been cancelled, according to a release.

The Galveston County Fair and Rodeo has been cancelled, according to a release.

Frost Bank will temporarily close the lobbies of its financial centers around Texas.

The Sam Houston National Forest has indefinitely closed four recreation areas, including Scott’s Ridge in Montgomery County, according to a release from the USDA Forest Service.

The Chambers County Golf Course is closed through April 3rd, according to a release.

Harris County courts and the District Attorney’s office are closed after staff was exposed to the coronavirus.

The Galleria, Premium Outlets, Memorial City and Katy Mills malls have temporarily closed through March 29.

Space Center Houston is closed through Sunday, April 12.

The Kemah Boardwalk is closed.

11 a.m. March 18

So far in Texas there have been two confirmed deaths and 129 cases of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Houston and Harris County officials on Monday took drastic steps to stem the spread of coronavirus by ordering the closure of all bars and clubs countywide for a 15-day period. Restaurants are also limited to takeout and delivery orders only.

The announcement led to a slew of more closures and cancellations across the region. See below for the latest updates:

Events:

Government:

The federal courts in Houston and Galveston announced Wednesday all criminal and civil jury trials set in March and April will be pushed to May 1 or thereafter.

Texas will waive certain requirements for unemployment benefits.

This list will be updated as developments are announced.

4 p.m. March 16:

The number of novel coronavirus cases in the Houston region continues to grow, reaching 29 as of Monday morning, the Houston Chronicle reported. The outbreak has prompted Gov. Greg Abbott to suspend the STAAR test and Mayor Sylvester Turner to call an emergency city council meeting to extend the city's emergency health declaration.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday recommended against any events with more than 50 people during the next eight weeks. City and county officials are expected to order the indefinite closure of bars and place restrictions on restaurants.

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Houston-area school districts offering free meals due to coronavirus closures

The following items have recently been either cancelled, postponed or closed due to the ongoing threat of the coronavirus:

Events/businesses:

4:40 p.m. March 12:

Multiple Houston-area school districts have announced they will close campuses to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, including Fort Bend ISD, Katy ISD and Conroe ISD, the Houston Chronicle reported. See a complete list of closures - with updates on each district to follow - here.

11 a.m. March 12:

A Montgomery County woman in her 40s has tested "presumptively positive" for COVID-19, bringing the number of Houston-area cases to 16, the Houston Chronicle reported.

9:31 a.m. March 12:

The number of Houston-area novel coronavirus cases has increased to 15, the Houston Chronicle reported. The latest case involves a woman between 15 to 25 years old who recently traveled to New York state, the Houston Health Department said. She is quarantined in her home and experiencing mild symptoms.

Original story March 11:

Due to a sudden outbreak of novel coronavirus cases in Houston, area school districts, colleges and events have been either cancelled, postponed or closed.

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization declared the virus a pandemic and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner issued a seven-day emergency health declaration. Fourteen confirmed cases have been reported in the Houston-area, with the most recent case involving a Montgomery County man who may have attended the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's BBQ cookoff event.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Coronavirus cancels Houston Rodeo: Here's everything you need to know

See below for a list of Houston-area closures due to the coronavirus. This list will be updated as developments are announced.

Events:

Schools:

As of Thursday afternoon, most Houston-area districts have announced closures, including Houston ISD, Fort Bend ISD, Katy ISD and Conroe ISD. Click here for updates on the districts.





Rice University has moved all of its classes to online or "remote formats" for the rest of the semester, reports the Chronicle's Brittany Britto.





The Houston Independent School District announced Thursday evening classes will be cancelled through March 30. The district will be closed next week for spring break. The district announced it will limit campus visitors and only screened visitors will be allowed on campus from March 23 to April 3. All after school activities will be cancelled during that time.

Houston Baptist University announced in a Thursday statement the university will not hold any classes for the week of March 16-21. Classes will resume online starting March 23 until further notice. All meetings and activities will be suspended until face-to-face instruction can resume. All on-campus events and gatherings of more than 100 people are cancelled through the end of March.





The University of St. Thomas has cancelled classes for Thursday March 12 through Friday, March 13, according to a statement from the university. Classes will resume online the week of March 23.





The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) has suspended classes from March 16-22, according to a statement. All classes will be conducted online between March 23-April 4. On April 4, UHD will asses whether to continue conducting classes online. Events scheduled for March 16-April 4 will be postponed, cancelled or conducted online.





Houston Community College (HCC) said via a statement Thursday the spring break holiday will be extended by two days. HCC classes will not resume until Wednesday, March 25.

Prairie View A&M announced via Twitter Wednesday that it would suspend classes until Monday, March 23, but that faculty and staff are still required to work.

South Texas College of Law Houston has canceled all on-campus classes and will conduct its classes only online starting Thursday according to a university release. The law school will re-evaluate its decisions on March 23 after its spring break, but the campus will remain open and business operations will continue.

University of Houston classes are canceled for next week. University will remain open but faculty/staff have the option to work remotely. Classes will resume online March 23. Resident students are encouraged to stay home but dorms are open for those returning, according to an official tweet by UH President Renu Khator.

All Montgomery ISD campuses and departments will close this Thursday and Friday ahead of spring break. Montgomery ISD after-school activities are cancelled for Wednesday, and all sporting events and practices are cancelled through Saturday.





Saint Thomas' Episcopal School in Meyerland is closed for the next two weeks, including next week's spring break.





The Joy School in the Museum District is closed for the next two weeks, including next week's spring break.



Texas A&M has suspended classes until March 18.





Rice University has cancelled in-person classes and undergraduate teaching labs this week, the Houston Chronicle reported. The announcement came days after an employee tested positive last week for COVID-19. Rice University currently isn't hosting events for more than 100 people, the Houston Chronicle reported.





Prairie View A&M has suspended classes until Monday, March 23, the university announced via Twitter. Faculty and staff are still required to report to work.





The University of Texas announced it will extend spring break through March 30. The university said it will shift many classes to online instruction and is working to increase social distancing.





Southwestern University is urging students to remain off campus and has extended its spring break. Classes will resume March 25.





Texas Christian University announced via Twitter it will extend spring break through March 20 and transition to online classes March 23-April 3.





The University of Texas at San Antonio announced it will extend its spring break for one week through March 20 to prepare campuses. Starting March 23, classes will be conducted online.





Texas A&M University-San Antonio announced via Twitter it will extend spring break through the week of March 15 and classes will be conducted online starting March 23.





Baylor University announced via Twitter spring break will be extended by one week and classes will move to online platforms from March 23 through April 3.





Texas Southern University is closed Friday, March 13, according to a statement from the university. The university's spring break is scheduled for March 16-22. Classes will resume online beginning March 23 until further notice, according to a statement from the TSU Assistant Vice President Steve Scheffler.





Lone Star College has extended its spring break and will resume classes March 23, the Houston Chronicle reported.





The Regis School announced Thursday it has will close Friday, March 13. The following week is the school's spring break. The campus will remain closed March 23-27 but students will still attend classes remotely. The campus will reopen March 30, pending any future developments.

Hospitals:

The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston has updated its visitor policies; patients are permitted two visitors 18 years or older and only healthy visitors are allowed to accompany patients in ambulances or for outpatient procedures, UT authorities said.





The Veterans Administration canceled all scheduled Friday and Saturday veterans legal clinics held at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) until further notice, according to an official press release.





CHI St. Luke's Health has limited the number of visitors allowed for each patient to two adults per day. This affects seven Houston-area hospitals, including Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center and CHI St. Luke's Health hospitals in The Woodlands and Sugar Land. Visitors may be asked to wear a mask, gown or gloves and may be screened upon entering the hospitals.





Harris Health System said via an emailed statement all patients and visitors entering any of the system's hospitals, facilities, health centers or clinics will be screened for COVID-19. Patients have been asked to limit the number of people accompanying them to one person for any clinical visit. This applies to all 48 locations, including Ben Taub Hospital.





The Madison Jobe Senior Center in Pasadena has been closed until further notice, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Community Meetings:

Lakewood Church canceled public services this weekend, instead opting to broadcast the events online in the wake of the public health emergency declaration in Houston, according to a Facebook post from the church.





The city's remaining Capital Improvement Project (CIP) meetings have been cancelled. The meetings will be rescheduled for a later date, according to an official tweet.





The Alief-Westwood Complete Communities meeting scheduled for this evening has been cancelled in light of Mayor Turner's announcement about the cancellation of city-sponsored meetings due to public safety concern. The meeting will be held at a later date, according to an official tweet.

Harris County Government:

Civil trials are canceled through end of March, according to an official statement by Judge Michael Gomez, Harris County District Courts.

Find live updates on the coronavirus in Houston on HoustonChronicle.com.

Rebecca Hennes covers community news. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | rebecca.hennes@chron.com