Week in Review: Sporting events, theaters, schools taking steps to curb chances of exposure to coronavirus
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Over the course of just a few hours Friday, cases of the novel coronavirus in Pennsylvania jumped from 33 to 41 — including the first patient to test presumptive positive from Western Pennsylvania.
Fears that it will spread prompted sports leagues, entertainment venues, schools and other organizations to take steps to help people avoid coming into contact with others who may have been exposed.
Here are some of the week’s top stories chronicling efforts to address the health emergency:
The eastern part of Pennsylvania continues to see an increase in presumed coronavirus cases, according to the state Department of Health.
Pennsylvania has 20 presumed positive cases of the virus and two confirmed cases as of Thursday.
The highest number of cases — 13 — is in Montgomery County, a suburb of Philadelphia, according to the health department. Monroe and Bucks counties each have two cases, and single cases each were reported in Delaware, Northampton, Philadelphia, Pike and Wayne counties.
Pittsburgh’s St. Patrick’s Day parade canceled, bars warned about occupancy
A St. Patrick’s Day party will go on in Pittsburgh on Saturday without a parade, but the city is asking bar owners to voluntarily reduce the number of patrons allowed inside and said they would strictly enforce occupancy limits.
The spreading coronavirus that causes covid-19 prompted city officials to cancel the popular parade, which dates to the 19th century and has been an annual Pittsburgh tradition since 1950.
NHL suspends season over coronavirus concerns
The NHL paused its regular season because of concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Via a statement released by the league early Thursday afternoon after a teleconference among league owners and commissioner Gary Bettman, the league cited the NBA suspension of its season after at least one its players tested positive for covid-19.
NCAA cancels men’s, women’s basketball tournaments
March Madness came to a screeching halt before a bracket could even be filled out.
The NCAA canceled its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments Thursday because of the spread of coronavirus, putting an abrupt end to the season less than a month before champions were to be crowned.
PIAA suspends basketball tournament, swimming championships for 2 weeks
The PIAA will reassess the coronavirus situation in two weeks, said executive director Bob Lombardi, and decide then whether to resume the winter sports championships.
In two weeks, all options are back on the table. The PIAA could resume competition, extend the postponements or, in a worst-case scenario, cancel the rest of the postseason.
NBA suspends season until further notice, over coronavirus
The NBA has suspended its season “until further notice” after a Utah Jazz player tested positive Wednesday for the coronavirus, a move that came only hours after the majority of the league’s owners were leaning toward playing games without fans in arenas.
Now there will be no games at all, at least for the time being.
MLB cancels spring games, delays openers
Major League Baseball is delaying the start of its season by at least two weeks because of the coronavirus outbreak and suspended the rest of its spring training game schedule.
Opening day had been scheduled for March 26.
Disney World closes theme parks for rest of March as coronavirus concerns swell
Throughout its nearly 50-year history, Walt Disney World has closed briefly a handful of times from looming hurricanes and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but late Thursday, the company announced it would shut down for nearly two weeks starting Sunday because of the coronavirus pandemic — an unprecedented move.
PSO and Cultural Trust set to go on this weekend, while some theaters pull back
There is an old saying in show business: “The show must go on.” And that’s what is happening in parts of Pittsburgh, at least for now.
With concern over the spread of the coronavirus inspiring precautions across the country, some key cultural venues are keeping their lights on this weekend while putting certain conditions in place.
Coronavirus fears spark panic-buying in Western Pa.
As the novel coronavirus shuts down schools, sporting events and concerts, locals were stocking up Thursday on essentials — especially toilet paper.
There were a few stray items in the toilet paper section at the Walmart near Pittsburgh Mills mall, and even those disappeared by late morning. The shelves where disinfectant wipes and cleaning sprays would normally be were similarly bare.
Western Pennsylvania school districts prepare for coronavirus
Western Pennsylvania school districts are making plans to continue instruction in the event schools close temporarily because of the spreading covid-19 coronavirus.