Coronavirus Precautions Prompt Closings, Cancellations in Central Texas

Earlier today, health officials in Bell County announced a presumptive case of COVID-19 in a 29-year-old man who recently returned from Europe. That man is self-isolating, and officials are working to determine where he went and who he had contact with in recent days as they await confirmation of his case from the CDC.

This, along with state and nationwide concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus, prompted several cancellations across Central Texas.

We will update this post with new information as it becomes available.

Local school closures include:

Closed March 16-20

Academy ISD
Axtell ISD
Bartlett ISD
Belton ISD
Bosqueville ISD
Bruceville Eddy ISD
China Spring ISD
Copperas Cove ISD
Holland ISD
Killeen ISD
Little River-Academy ISD
Moody ISD
Oglesby ISD
Rogers ISD
Salado ISD
Temple ISD

The City of Temple’s Zone After-School programs at all Temple and Belton ISD sites will be cancelled next week, March 16 to March 20, after both school districts decided to extend Spring Break for one week. The Zone program will resume once area schools re-open.
Troy ISD
Riesel ISD
Valley Mills ISD

Closed March 16-27

Connally ISD
La Vega ISD
Lorena ISD
McGregor ISD
Midway ISD
Robinson ISD
Waco ISD
West ISD

UMHB officials have decided to extend spring break. In an update to their response plan, university officials said classes scheduled for March 16 through March 20 have been cancelled, and the the possible cancellation of athletic events was being discussed with officials from the American Southwest Conference. No decision had yet been made about class format. (Some universities have moved classes to online formats in wake of the spread of COVID-19.)

Texas A&M Central Texas has cancelled classes and campus events for the week of March 16 through March 21, though university offices are scheduled to remain open. Faculty, staff, and student workers were expected to maintain their normal work schedules. TAMU CTX officials say they will work to convert as many face-to-face classes to an online format beginning the week of March 23 through 27.

Baylor University has extended spring break through March 23, and classes that are usually held on campus will be held online from March 23 to April 28.

McLennan Community College has extended spring break until March 23.

Texas State Technical College has extended spring break through March 29, but online classes will continue on normal schedule.

According to a press release from the City of Temple:

The Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum has cancelled the Spring Break Train Trip scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, March 14. For those visitors who already bought tickets, all trip costs will be fully refunded. The Temple Parks and Recreation Department has cancelled Paws on the Plaza scheduled for Saturday, March 21, as well as the Bush’s Spring Chicken 10K Run scheduled for Saturday, March 28.

Any planned public meetings or forums where Bell County’s “social distancing” guidelines can be maintained will continue as scheduled.

Bell County and McLennan County have cancelled jury duty services for the remainder of March. In Coryell County, court proceedings are cancelled through April 1st except for essential hearings and proceedings.