UNDATED (WKZO AM/FM) — Large gatherings, schools, businesses, and more are canceling events or restricting travel as they continue to respond to the coronavirus.
On Friday, March 13th Governor Gretchen Whitmer canceled all events with more than 250 people attending starting that day at 5 p.m. and ending on Sunday, April 5th at 5 p.m.
Below is a growing list of events that have been canceled or postponed due to coronavirus concerns. It will continued to be updated as more information comes in.
Overall it may be best to question any large gathering and double check to make sure certain plans are still on.
The most up-to-date information on the coronavirus can be found at michigan.gov/coronavirus.
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SCHOOLS:
- Governor Gretchen Whitmer ordered the closure of all K-12 school buildings, public, private, and boarding, to students from March 16th until April 5th.
- All Michigan public universities are temporarily switching to online classes in some way, but it’s best to check each specific school to see their protocol
- This includes MSU, CMU, OU, WSU, U of M (Ann Arbor, Flint and Dearborn campuses), EMU, FSU, GVSU, WMU, SVSU, NMU, as well as Lake Superior State University and Michigan Technological University
- Kalamazoo Valley Community College is suspending face-to-face instruction in all campus learning environments
- Calvin University and Kalamazoo College are two of the few private colleges announcing a suspension of in-person classes through spring break.
- Lake Michigan College classes will be cancelled March 13th, all in-person classes are cancelled March 16th-20th and then “distance learning” will take place March 23rd-April 13th.
- Several GVSU events have been cancelled including The West Michigan Healthcare Ethics Conference and the DeVos Medical Ethics Colloquy, The Michigan Humanities’ Great Michigan Read with Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, and the Region 12 Science Olympiad Tournament.
- Western Michigan University’s Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine has canceled it’s class of 2020 Match Day, Spring Evening Faculty Meeting, Research Day, and Second Look Day. Visitors will be limited to WMed facilities and students working in medical environments will go through mandatory health screening.
Participants have been notified. Organizers will be working with schools to process reimbursements.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY EVENTS:
- Kalamazoo 20th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade cancelled (the Hooley for Healing event at Bell’s Eccentric Café will be postponed)
- Grand Rapids Irish on Ionia postponed until late summer
- Jackson Symphony Orchestra’s Irish Festival is cancelled. Their Signature Series concert will be postponed.
JAIL & HEALTH VISITS:
(Please call ahead for care at hospitals to ensure the safety of all healthcare providers)
- The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) will cease in-person visiting of prisoners effective immediately for the safety of staff, prisoners and the public. This will also include outside volunteers and other tours and groups who routinely come into the prisons.
- The St. Joseph County Jail is restricting all non-essential visits to ensure the safety and health of the jail population and all of their employees.
- Spectrum Health is restricting visitors under 12-years-old and limiting one visitor per patient.
- Bronson’s visitation policy has been further restricted. Two visitors will be allowed to see patients undergoing surgery, in end-of-life situations, labor and delivery, pediatric patients, and those in the NICU. Visitation hours will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Ascension Borgess Hospital’s visiting hours are being restricted to between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. every day.
- Ascension Borgess ProMed pediatrics open house is being postponed. Mix and Mingle for Medical Assistants cancelled.
- WMU’s Adult Wellness program is cancelling their fall risk and hearing screening originally scheduled for March 13th.
- The Barry County Sheriff’s Department has suspended inmate visitations for the public. Professional visits are still allowed.
SPORTING EVENTS:
- The Western Michigan University vs. St. Cloud State hockey series cancelled
- Big 10 tournament games cancelled
- K Wings “Green Ice” games are cancelled due to the ECHLcancelling their season
- NBA has suspended its season
- NCAA cancelled
- The NHL has suspended all games for the time being.
- MLB suspends spring training, delays opening day for baseball by at least two weeks.
- Special Olympics of Michigan is suspending all events and programming until the end of the month.
PUBLIC SERVICES:
- Kalamazoo Metro bus service has closed its Kalamazoo Transportation Center on East Kalamazoo Avenue and North Rose Street to the public.
- Social Security Administration offices are closed throughout Michigan until further notice. Local field offices will still be able to provide assistance over the phone.
- The Kalamazoo Public Library has cancelled all programs until further notice.
- The Parchment Library has cancelled all programs until further notice.
- Discover Kalamazoo has announced that it will close until March 30.
- The offices of Senior Services of Southwest Michigan will be closed to the public beginning March 16th. This includes suspension of congregate meals and activities.
- Portage Senior Center is closed until further notice.
- All City of Kalamazoo facilties will be closed to the public until further notice. City commission meetings are expected to currently take place at their scheduled time. Residents will still be able to access basic services including water, fire, and police response.
- City office buildings in both Oshtemo Township and the City of Portage are closed. Business can still be conducted online or by mail. More information can be found here.
- All City of Battle Creek facilities will close to the public at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, for regular business. Facility closures will be in place through Friday, April 3. Essential services will still be provided to citizens. All business with the city can be conducted online or by mail. Water shutoffs will be suspended until further notice.
- The Michigan Department of Civil Rights will close all offices to walk-in traffic, effective immediately until further notice. Individuals who have an appointment will be admitted to the Department’s offices. Any individual who wishes to file a complaint of unlawful discrimination or request information can do so online at Michigan.gov/MDCR, by email at MDCR-INFO@michigan.gov, or by calling 1-800-482-3604.
- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will be closing the information lobbies at all Michigan Welcome Centers until further notice. At locations where it is possible, restrooms will remain open to the public. A contact phone number will be posted at each location for visitors who need additional information. For travel information, visit www.Michigan.gov/Drive.
- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will close to general public traffic numerous customer service centers and field offices statewide.The closures will take effect at 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 18. The affected DNR offices will be open for regular deliveries and by appointment only to customers who need services such as obtaining hunting and fishing licenses, burn permits and charter licenses. Citizens in need of DNR services should contact their local office to see what is being provided.
- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has also implemented new restrictions relating to camping, although campgrounds at state parks remain open. More information can be reviewed at this link.
- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has closed shooting ranges and will restrict general public walk-in traffic at facilities statewide beginning Thursday, March 19.
- The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) will close its lobbies to visits from the public, except for appointments, and will stop requiring residents to visit MDHHS offices in order to receive state assistance benefits during the COVID-19 outbreak. Business will still be conducted by phone. Citizens can also use www.michigan.gov/MIBridges to submit paperwork, review benefit information, report changes, apply for benefits and complete the process for redetermining eligibility for assistance.
- Chief Judge Kathleen M. Brickley has ordered all Van Buren County Courts closed to the public through April 5, 2020. Absent further updates, normal court operations will resume Monday April 6, 2020 at 8:30 a.m.
- Barry County and the Barry County Trial Court operations will remain available, however buildings will be closed to the public beginning Wednesday, March 18, 2020 through Sunday, April 5, 2020. Please visit www.barrycounty.org for information about services or call 269-945-1400.
OTHER EVENTS:
- The 91st annual Tulip Time Festival in Holland has been canceled this year.
- The public celebration of life for the founder of “Taco Bob’s” Bob Ketteman is being postponed until the summer.
- At Miller Auditorium, “That Golden Girls Show!: A Puppet Parody” is being postponed from its original date on Thursday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m.
- Waitress at Miller Auditorium has ben cancelled.
- Easter Bunny visits at are being closed for the season at Lakeview Square Mall in Battle Creek.
- The 11th annual Calhoun County Senior Fair is cancelled. Vendors who have already paid their registration fee will be fully reimbursed.
- The National Weather Service Grand Rapids Office has canceled all Skywarn Spotter Training Sessions for the month of March
- The Kalamazoo Valley Museum will be closed March 16th-April 6th.
- The Kalamazoo Nature Center is cancelling all programming and its visitor center from March 13-March 20. Trails will remain open with extended hours.
- 2020 Gilmore International Keyboard Festival cancelled. Those with tickets can either, donate tickets and receive a tax deduction for the total ticket value, request a credit for any Gilmore performance through the 2022 festival, or receive a refund for the value of the ticket.
- Bells Eccentric Cafe has canceled all events, including parties and concerts, attended by over 100 people through the end of April. The cafe will still remain open during the period. Bell’s has also canceled Oberon Day at the cafe on March 23rd.
- The Ministry with Community event Chefs Against Hunger has been cancelled. More information can be found here.
- Curious Kids’ Museum and Curious Kids’ Discovery Zone will be closed through April 14.
BUSINESSES RESTRICTING TRAVEL:
- Kellogg’s Company restricting travel to or through countries on the Centers for Disease Control Travel Health Notice list
- Stryker restricting travel and monitoring some employees after a suspected coronavirus case
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If you’d like to add an event to this list, please email wkzonews@wkzo.com.
