This post will continue to be updated regarding any cancellations or postponements of events in the Orange and Chatham county communities from concerns of the ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.
The North Carolina Botanical Garden will be closing its main garden and education center beginning on Friday, March 20.
A release from the garden’s director, Dr. Damon Waitt, announced the decision, which complies with the UNC System’s directive to reduce campus operations and services. The main garden will close at 5 p.m. on Friday until further notice and the Allen Education Center, the display gardens, the gates and parking lot will also be closed. The nature preserves, including the Piedmont Nature Trails, Battle Park, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Parker Preserve, and Penny’s Bend Nature Preserve, will remain open. The Botanical Garden requests users to observe the rules posted at each location and be sure to practice social distancing while on the trails.
“Closing a Garden is never an easy decision,” said Waitt in the release. “During times like these, gardens are places of beauty, tranquility, healing, and respite. It is especially difficult at this time of year when our winter preparation is just weeks away from exploding in a profusion of spring color. Please take comfort in the fact that it will still be appreciated by the birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife that depend on plants for their livelihood.”
The Morehead Planetarium & Science Center is suspending operations until further notice amid the ongoing spread of COVID-19 and has canceled many upcoming events.
A statement from the planetarium said the North Carolina Science Festival has largely been canceled as well.
You can read the full statement on the planetarium’s website.
The UNC System’s Board of Governors will be holding its monthly committee meetings over a conference call to comply with the requests of North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and health officials.
In a release on Tuesday, March 17, a spokesperson for the UNC System said all six committee meetings and the full board meeting scheduled for Thursday and Friday will now be conducted over the phone. The meetings were previously slated to be held in the UNC Center for School Leadership Development in Chapel Hill.
The YMCA of the Triangle announced on Monday, March 16, it will be closing all locations to curb the ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus.
In a message to the community, the YMCA said it is temporarily suspending all member access and activities from facilities starting at 8 p.m. on Monday until at least Wednesday, March 25. This includes facility access, group fitness classes and wellness programs in all facilities.
“It’s hard to imagine more difficult circumstances for operating our YMCA,” said President and CEO Doug McMillan. “We are a community organization. We bring people together – from all backgrounds and circumstances – and create personal connections that change lives through membership and programs. But the nature of this virus, and how it spreads, presents significant challenges for our Y.”
Cat’s Cradle has canceled or rescheduled many of their March and some of their April shows.
The following performances for the weekend of March 13 through 15 will continue as planned:
FR 3/13: Songs From The Road Band w/Big Fat Gap
SU 3/15: Call Me Karizma
For more information on show cancellations, visit Cat’s Cradle’s website.
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is suspending operations until further notice, and the NC Science Festival is largely cancelled at this time.
Malenia Swinton from Morehead Planetarium said they are strongly urging all partners to postpone or cancel their NCSciFest events in their local communities, and to refer to the CDC and NCDHHS for guidelines on public gatherings.
At this time, all advertising currently running, or scheduled to run in the coming weeks (through April 30) will need to halt, effective immediately.
Find the official statement related to the NC Science Festival here as well as Morehead’s statement here.
All concerts and performances at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro have been cancelled for the month of March. The Box Office Manager said they will try to reschedule as many as they can.
Due to public health concerns regarding the COVID-19 virus, we are cancelling this month's John Jorgenson, Dom Flemons, and Alash concerts. For more info, please contact our Box Office at boxoffice@artscenterlive.org or (919) 929-2787
— The ArtsCenter (@ArtsCenterlive) March 13, 2020
The Tar Heel 10 Miler and Fleet Feet 4 Miler scheduled for April 18 have been canceled.
After careful consideration and in light of the latest information from the NC DHHS, the 2020 Tar Heel 10 Miler and Fleet Feet 4 Miler scheduled for April 18, 2020 has been cancelled. You can view our Official Cancellation Statement online here, https://t.co/zhQSA9tLEW pic.twitter.com/MUpWFMwR4x
— Tar Heel 10 Miler (@TarHeel10Miler) March 12, 2020
The Chapel Hill non-profit Eyes Ears Nose and Paws, which helps train service dogs, announced it has canceled its upcoming art benefit on Franklin Street.
The event, called Drawn Together: Dogs, Art and Inmates, was slated to be held on Friday, March 13, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The proceeds from the event were going toward the organization’s At Both Ends of the Leash program.
Executive Director Maria Ikenberry shared a statement to volunteers on Thursday with the announcement.
I made this decision because of concerns about potential COVID-19 (coronavirus) transmission. EENP works with vulnerable populations who are at high risk if a dangerous contagious illness sweeps through. The majority of our clients have some kind of compromised immunity which puts them in a higher risk population, and a number of our volunteers are also members of high-risk populations. Additionally, our ABEL trainers don’t have the freedom to isolate themselves from others if coronavirus arrives within the prison. I feel a responsibility to contribute to public health efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus so there is time to mitigate the impact of the virus on vulnerable populations.While there are not yet many diagnosed cases of coronavirus in our area, it is not clear whether that is because the virus is not in our area or because testing has not been widespread. I felt it would be irresponsible for me to encourage a public gathering of 50-100 people at a time when there may be undetected reservoirs of the virus in our area, especially if that decision presents an increased risk to the clients and ABEL trainers that we were hoping to benefit.
This was a really difficult decision for me to make because a lot of people have put a lot of effort into making this an amazing show. The good news is that we will be able to use all of that effort to put on a great show at a future date once it does not present a risk to public health.
Carolina Performing Arts shared that next week’s performances of Meklit and HOME have been canceled.
Next week's performances of Meklit and HOME are cancelled. We will be contacting all ticketholders to issue refunds, but ask for your patience during this evolving situation, and as we learn about other potentially affected events. https://t.co/qBSiHHHl12
— Carolina Performing Arts (@UNCPerformArts) March 12, 2020
CPA said it will be contacting all ticket-holders to issue refunds. You can learn more about how the coronavirus is affecting upcoming performances at its Health Update web page.
The book sale organized by the Friends of the Chatham Community Library has been canceled.
A message from leadership on Thursday, March 12, announced the upcoming event during the first week of April has been canceled over “widespread concerns” about the current spread of COVID-19. The sale was scheduled to be held at the community library in Pittsboro.
Further information about the cancellation can be learn by calling the library’s main number, which is 919-545-8084.
The Durham Bulls Athletic Park has updated its guest policy in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The park made the update effective on Wednesday, March 11.
The ballpark is now requesting visitors confirm before attending events that no one in their party has traveled overseas or a COVID-19 impacted city or state within the last 14 days and to confirm no one in their party is feeling ill. The release said fans attending games at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park should take cautionary measures when interacting with others, such as avoiding shaking hands, shielding coughs and sneezes, washing hands often with soap and warm water and using alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
The UNC vs. Duke baseball series for March 13-15 has been canceled.
With UNC cancelling all university-affiliated events with more than 50 attendees on Wednesday, March 11, PlayMakers Repertory Company will not be showing its scheduled performances of Julius Caesar. The play was scheduled to run through March 22.
A release from the theater organization earlier in the week addressed PlayMakers concerns and plans to address the ongoing spread of COVID-19.
Club Nova announced on Wednesday, March 11, it is postponing its Capital Campaign Kickoff event until further notice due to concerns over the ongoing spread of the coronavirus.
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro non-profit had planned to host a party on March 18 to celebrate the procurement of its new location in Carrboro. Organizers said the decision to postpone was made because many members and supporters of Club Nova fall into the higher-risk demographics for contracting the virus.
According to its website, Club Nova would be revealing building plans to sponsors and members at the event.
The Chatham Outreach Alliance, also known as CORA, cancelled its upcoming Miles for Meals 5K and Fun Walk on Tuesday, March 10.
The non-profit food pantry based in Chatham County announced the change on Tuesday, citing the ongoing spread of COVID-19 as the reason for not holding the event on March 29. The race is a fundraiser for the pantry’s Summer Nutritional Assistance for Chatham Kids, or SNACK!, program which distributes food over the summer to kids who depend on federal school meals during the school year.
In a release on its website, CORA explained details around the cancellation:
Like many across the State of North Carolina, CORA has been monitoring the situation involving COVID-19, the coronavirus. Our top priority is the well-being of our community the health and safety of those attending our events. While the risk in Chatham County remains low, this situation is changing very quickly and there is much uncertainty. Due to this uncertainty, we have decided to cancel the Miles for Meals 5K and Fun Walk on March 29th. If you have registered for the event, you will be contacted shortly about refund options. Thank you for your tremendous support and we look forward to seeing you again at our next scheduled event.
Executive Director of CORA Melissa Beard spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck about the decision to cancel the 5K.
“With so many unknown factors about the coronavirus and the impact that’ll have on the area, we decided to postpone,” said Beard. “We’ll be doing an online fundrasier for SNACK!, perhaps a virtual race of some sort. We do want that effort and all of those funds to benefit the SNACK! program, which is really an integral part of what we do with CORA over the summer to benefit the kids in Chatham County.”
At least one positive coronavirus case has been identified in Chatham County, six others identified in the state. Governor Roy Cooper announced on Tuesday North Carolina would be entering a state of emergency in an effort to limit the spread of the virus.
Where can I find collected information about the number of closings of churches and temples in the local area?