MONDAY March 16, 2020
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CurryDaily closes city event venues Record JACKSONVILLE
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Photo by Mike Mendenhall
The Pete the Cat show at the Florida Theatre is one of many postponed events.
JACKSONVILLE
Planners respond to new virus
Fears of spreading the illness led to closings and delays. BY KATIE GARWOOD, MIKE MENDENHALL AND SCOTT SAILER STAFF WRITERS
to suspend permits for large gatherings in city parks and public places through the end of March. The mayor announced the Broadway musical “Hamilton,” scheduled for a March 17-29 run at the Times-Union Center, is “not happening.” On its website March 13, The TimesUnion Center told “Hamilton” attendees to hold onto their tickets, as the venue will push to get the show to return to Jacksonville. City Hall and other municipal administrative buildings will remain open, but Curry encouraged people to “minimize their in-person transactions at government buildings” and
With the first case of coronavirus diagnosed in Duval County as of March 13, cancellations, postponements and closings are becoming standard. Hospitality-related businesses are among those affected as events are canceled and travel to the region decreases. Mayor Lenny Curry announced March 13 that city venues, libraries, senior centers and other nonessential departments would close by the end of the day until further notice. That means events scheduled at city venues will be canceled or postponed. The Players Championship was canceled March 12 for the first time in the tournament’s history. It typically attracts about 200,000 visitors for the tournament. Organizers postponed the Generation W conference scheduled for April 3 at the University of
SEE CURRY, PAGE 2
SEE CLOSURES , PAGE 2
Photo by Mike Mendenhall
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry briefs reporters March 13 on his decision to indefinitely close all city-owned event venues due to the spread of coronavirus.
Jacksonville parks are shut down and “Hamilton” is “not happening.” BY MIKE MENDENHALL STAFF WRITER
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry ordered all city-sponsored events canceled and all city-owned event venues closed indefinitely in response to the growing spread of the new coronavirus. The list includes The Times-Union Center for Performing Arts, VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, TIAA Bank Field, 121 Financial Ballpark and the Prime Osborn Convention Center.
Curry said the closures extend to city parks and libraries and the Jacksonville Zoo. During a March 13 news conference in the City Hall atrium, Curry said his unilateral steps are to slow the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, in Duval County. “I have a mission and job to do. We as city officials all have a mission and a job to do and that is to make sure the people and families of Duval County, Jacksonville, Florida are safe,” Curry said. “The way we’re going to do that is slow the spread of the coronavirus and, eventually, eradicate the spread,” he said. Curry instructed city departments
JBA cancels or reschedules meetings The Jacksonville Bar Association canceled its March 25 member meeting and canceled or postponed other events through March 31, although some might be online. The Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association canceled its March 19 meeting, and organizers canceled the March 24 reception for the American Bar Association 19th Amendment exhibit. Duval County Judge R. Anthony Salem’s March 26 investiture is postponed. Visit jaxbar.org for information. More at JaxDailyRecord.com
VOLUME 107, NO. 84 • ONE SECTION