Closings and cancellations in Tampa Bay area due to coronavirus
TAMPA, Fla. - Now that the COVID-19 coronavirus is a pandemic, officials across the state of Florida are taking steps to prevent or at least slow the spread of the virus.
We'll keep this list updated with the latest closures, cancellations and other information for Florida and the Tampa Bay area due to COVID-19.
Statewide:
- Stay at home: A statewide stay-at-home order is in effect
- Public schools: All Florida public school classes to be held online through the end of the year
- Public universities: All state universities have been asked to move to online classes
- Cruises: Princess Cruises voluntarily stops all trips for two months
- Sports: NBA suspending season until further notice due to coronavirus
- Theme parks: Walt Disney World Resort closing, Disney Cruises canceled to avoid COVID-19 spread; Universal Orlando Resort closing to 'assist...nation's preventive efforts' against COVID-19
- Courts: Due to COVID-19, most face-to-face legal proceedings in the state courts will be suspended for a minimum of two weeks under a statewide order issued March 13 by Florida Chief Justice Charles Canady.
- Parks: All state parks are closed
Hillsborough County:
- Tampa beaches closed until further notice
- All city of Tampa parks closing as of March 27
- WrestleMania 36 to be held in Orlando with no live audience: WWE
- Westfield Malls (Brandon, Citrus Park, Countryside, Siesta Key) closed until further notice
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island to close on Monday, March 16
- Straz Center suspends all performances and events due to coronavirus
- All programming at Tampa Theatre has been suspended through the end of March
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL Draft party at Raymond James Stadium is canceled
- Tampa Prep has decided to close its campus until March 30
- USF bans fans from athletic events as coronavirus precaution
- MacDill postpones AirFest airshow
- All Catholic masses in the Diocese of St. Petersburg (Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties) are suspended
- Tampa Pride 2020 in Ybor City has been rescheduled to May 30, 2020
- Cher's concert at Amalie Arena, scheduled for March, has been indefinitely postponed
- Kenny Chesney's concert at Raymond James Stadium, scheduled for May, has been indefinitely postponed
- TECO's Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach is closed
- Cigar City's 2020 Hunahpu's Day festival is canceled
- The 13th Judicial Court has called off jurors for the week of March 16-20. Summoned jurors SHOULD NOT report. The court will continue to reevaluate the need for jurors going forward. At this time, all courthouses in Hillsborough County will continue to remain open.
- Tampa Bay History Center will be closed temporarily beginning March 14
- Tampa Theater closed until April 30
-Tampa Parks and Recreation facilities, pools, and programs canceled as of March 14
- ZooTampa at Lowry Park is closed March 16-29
- County rec centers and splash pads
- All Tampa-Hillsborough County public libraries
Pinellas County:
- Pinellas County public beaches and parking to reopen on May 4
- All Catholic masses in the Diocese of St. Petersburg are suspended
- Tarpon Springs Fine Arts Festival is postponed -- and may be canceled, city officials say. It was initially scheduled for March 14-15
- The Dali Museum will be closed March 16-31
- Clearwater Aquarium will be close March 16-26.
Pasco County:
- Saint Leo University moving classes online
- New Port Richey postpones Chasco Fiesta
- All Catholic masses in the Diocese of St. Petersburg (Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties) are suspended
- Pasco County is closing all parks and nature preserves effective Monday, March 30 at 8 p.m. Boat ramps and Suncoast Trail will remain open
Hernando County:
- Brooksville Blueberry Festival has been canceled. It was originally scheduled on April 25 and 26.
- Pine Island Park, beach at Rogers Park in Hernando to reopen
- All Catholic masses in the Diocese of St. Petersburg (Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties) are suspended
Polk County:
- Sun ‘n Fun will be postponed to May
- LEGOLAND Florida to close Sunday, March 15 through March 31, 2020
- Polk State College closing to students March 16 - March 29
- Lakeland parks, basketball and tennis courts, dog parks, and boat ramps are closed
Sarasota County:
- Sarasota County beaches are open only for essential activities
- The Sarasota County Fair has been canceled
- Westfield Malls (Brandon, Citrus Park, Countryside, Siesta Key) closed until further notice
- The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has suspended events through March 31, 2020, effective immediately
Manatee County:
- Manatee County beaches close starting Friday, March 20 at 6 a.m.
- Manatee County Tax Collector is suspending all road skills driving tests until Tuesday, March 31
Citrus County:
- All Catholic masses in the Diocese of St. Petersburg (Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties) are suspended
Hardee County:
- No closures or cancellations announced.
Highlands County:
- '1000 Miles of Sebring' canceled due to travel ban; '12 Hours of Sebring' is still a go
DeSoto County:
- No closures or cancellations announced.
Sumter County:
- No closures or cancellations announced.