# COVID-19 closures, postponements and cancellation **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [March 13, 2020, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376 "2020-03-13T00:46:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/121 "2020-03-16T17:25:34Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > The governors of Washington, Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts, and California have closed all bars and restaurants. Michigan too now. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/122 "2020-03-16T17:32:24Z")
Maryland is now closed for business. Thank you for shopping with us. Come again! (closing all bars, restaurants, movie theaters, and gyms starting at 5pm today) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/123 "2020-03-16T17:50:06Z")
Georgia has postponed it’s Presidential primary. Early voting had already started. (There are a few local races also on the ballot. E.g., we get to pick a couple county posts.) So the parking lot at the park was nearly empty this morning. No water aerobics classes and the early voting was shut down. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/124 "2020-03-16T18:53:49Z")
Sorry folks, [Canada](https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/trudeau-closes-canada-border-citizens-69625654) is closed. Moose out front should have told ya. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/125 "2020-03-16T18:57:37Z")
My university just extended the online-only teaching plan through the end of the semester. Hopefully Zoom has the capacity to handle every college in North America using it to deliver classes. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/126 "2020-03-16T19:07:24Z")
Zoom, Vsee, Doxy, and others have been crashing at times today. Tough to get clients on board with telehealth when it’s overloaded! ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/127 "2020-03-16T19:11:15Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > My university just extended the online-only teaching plan through the end of the semester. Hopefully Zoom has the capacity to handle every college in North America using it to deliver classes. Also we’re closing our residence halls, canceling all on-campus activities, and canceling commencement. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/128 "2020-03-16T19:34:36Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Melania just announced that this year’s White House Easter Egg Roll has been canceled. Nooooooo!!! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/129 "2020-03-16T20:01:00Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > The governors of Washington, Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts, and California have closed all bars and restaurants. As I noted on another thread, the bars and restaurants here have been packed, mostly with people under 40. I wish we’d closed them all sooner. And I hope there’s federal money for the many, many workers who are now without paychecks. Illinois Gov. Pritzker, at least, is looking at ways of keeping kitchens open via delivery and curbside pickup. In related news, the governor is also keeping student food programs going via delivery and pickup. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/130 "2020-03-16T20:21:49Z")
[Six counties in California’s Bay Area are under “shelter in place” orders.](https://apnews.com/a342998638cdccb56172a1663e8d6edf) ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/131 "2020-03-16T21:42:41Z")
> [@](#): > > [New York, New Jersey and Connecticut ban gatherings of 50 or more as schools close across the region](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/16/nyregion/coronavirus-new-york-update.html). > > The governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut announced broad restrictions on public life on Monday, with gatherings of more than 50 people banned in all three states, and most nonessential businesses closed. > > All schools in New York State are also closing for at least two weeks, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced. The announcement came on the heels of the closing of New York City’s public school system, the nation’s largest. > > Casinos, gyms and movie theaters in the three states will be closed effective at 8 p.m. on Monday, Governor Cuomo of New York said on a joint call with his fellow governors. > > Bars and restaurants would be limited to takeout and delivery [. . .] > Groceries, gas stations, pharmacies and some other essential businesses will be allowed to remain open. – and on a very local level, although we have no known local cases (yet), I no longer have planning board work meetings scheduled every week this month. We’d have been well under the 50 person level; but some of us are high risk. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/132 "2020-03-16T21:50:58Z")
Local bus service has been reduced; the county-run service is on a Saturday schedule and Metrobus is on their Saturday Supplemental schedule (i.e.: the one they use for July 4). ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/133 "2020-03-16T21:53:23Z")
My bowling league is cancelled for the next two weeks. “So what?” you ask. Well, they are mostly rural Trump supporters who get their news from Facebook and feel this is all a Democrat hoax. However, the bowling alley bar is closed, so that hurts. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/134 "2020-03-16T22:12:46Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > The wonderful St. Louis Science Center is closed through March 31. The Zoo is still open, which surprises me. Everyone is spread out when viewing the outdoor exhibits, but there are a lot of indoor things where people pack together like sardines around the animals. And now the StL Zoo is closed, along with the Magic House (a very popular children’s science museum) and all St. Louis County Libraries. ETA: And the Missouri Botanical Garden. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/135 "2020-03-17T12:52:30Z")
Today’s Primary voting in Ohio has been postponed. What’s gonna happen with the conventions this summer? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/136 "2020-03-17T13:49:19Z")
We should have a thread: “What is still open?” ---
**Author:** ![Scougs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scougs/32/3158_2.png) [@Scougs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scougs)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/137 "2020-03-17T14:30:31Z")
Situation in Edinburgh, Scotland: Closures: All sport is off. All theatres closed. Launch event for Edinburgh International Festival (scheduled for tomorrow) is off. Still open: National museum, National gallery, Portrait gallery, Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh Zoo, schools, colleges. Pubs and restaurants are open, except Boris in his wisdom has told us not to go to them. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/138 "2020-03-17T21:11:18Z")
The American Society of Reproductive Medicine is the professional organization for infertility doctors. They’ve issued new [guidance](https://www.asrm.org/news-and-publications/news-and-research/press-releases-and-bulletins/asrm-issues-new-guidance-on-fertility-care-during-covid-19-pandemiccalls-for-suspension-of-most-treatments/) on how infertility practices should conduct business during the pandemic. The short answer is: they shouldn’t. ASRM calls for the suspension of most infertility treatment. There’s no legal force behind this, but most practices follow ASRM guidance. I think malpractice insurance for infertility practices often has rules saying that they won’t cover you if you deviate from ASRM guidance; and if you get sued and you’re found not to be following ASRM guidance, that’s a bad thing. So the rules are a big deal. My wife is an infertility doc. So once she completes the current treatment cycle on her current patients, she’s basically out of work. We’re fortunate, or course, that we’ve had year to build up savings, and my job is relatively high paying and isn’t going away, so this isn’t going to send us into financial ruin. But it does definitely suck. The guidance from ASRM makes sense, and it’s probably the right thing to do for greater society. But it’s a bummer for us. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/139 "2020-03-17T22:12:12Z")
Kansas: most state offices closing from March 23 to April 5; K-12 schools closed to in-person instruction for remainder of school year. [cite](https://www.cjonline.com/news/20200317/kansas-coronavirus-update-gov-kelly-closes-schools-sending-state-workers-home) ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376/140 "2020-03-18T15:00:56Z")
> [@slash2k](#): > > Kansas: most state offices closing from March 23 to April 5; K-12 schools closed to in-person instruction for remainder of school year. [cite](https://www.cjonline.com/news/20200317/kansas-coronavirus-update-gov-kelly-closes-schools-sending-state-workers-home) We’re up to[39 states + DC](https://www.edweek.org/ew/section/multimedia/map-coronavirus-and-school-closures.html) that have closed schools statewide, and[in California](https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2020/03/17/newsom-schools-likely-to-remain-closed-through-summer-1267579) (one of the remaining 11), nearly 99% of the schools are closed. I think KS Gov. Kelly is right to go ahead and admit that the academic year’s already over. CA Gov. Newsom says they’ll probably have to do the same, and I bet these are just the first pebbles of the avalanche. Because a 2- or 3-week school closure just isn’t going to be enough, not by a long shot. Better to admit that the year’s over, give seniors their diplomas, and take this time to start prepping for distance learning in the fall, in case it proves necessary - which is hardly unlikely. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-closures-postponements-and-cancellation/849376.md?page=8)