Providence declares state of emergency over virus

P5O9, E1 E $P The mayor of Providence de clared a state of emergency on Thursday and barred gather ings of more than people in response to the threat from the new coronavirus.

Mayor -orge Elor a said the city would not issue any licenses or permits for special events until further notice, and would temporarily revoke any entertainment licenses that have already been issued. ,n addition, nightclubs and restaurants will be limited to guests at a time.

ity sponsored events, including the annual St. Pat rick’s ay and St. -oseph’s ay celebrations at Provi dence ity Hall, will be re scheduled, he said.

$ll non essential public meetings will be canceled, but essential meetings reTuired to ensure basic operations of government will proceed.

The measures were neces sary because Providence is the “cultural, economic and medi cal center” of the state, Elor a said.

So far, there have been five presumptive positive cases of O9, in the state.

COLLEGE CANCELS

CLASSES

Brown 8niversity is send ing students home and moving to online only classes in re sponse to the threat of the new coranavirus, the ,vy eague school announced Thursday.

8ndergraduate students who live in campus residenc es or Brown owned properties were told to move out as soon as possible and no later than March . Online learning will start March .

lasses are canceled for the week of March so faculty members have time to prepare and students have time to pack and arrange for travel.

Providence ollege on :ednesday announced that it is suspending all in person classes starting Monday and until at least $pril .

olleges across the nation have made similar moves.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

CANCELED

$ day after giving the go ahead for the city’s St. Pat rick’s ay parade, the 1ew port ity ouncil reversed course and pulled the parade’s permits in response to the threat from the new corona virus.

The council voted :ednesday to cancel Satur day’s parade. The council had voted on Tuesday to allow the parade to go forward.

The reversal came after emocratic ov. ina 5ai mondo and the state epart ment of Health recommended against holding mass gather ings.

MaMor cities across the 8.S., including Boston, 1ew ork ity and hicago, have cancelled their St. Patrick’s ay parades.

EXCUSED FROM MASS

5oman atholic churches in 5hode ,sland are remain ing open to offer Mass during the coronavirus crisis, but pa rishioners are not obligated to attend Sunday services, the iocese of Providence said in a statement Thursday.

The diocese said atho lics are allowed to miss Sun day Mass through March . atholics age and older, especially those with underly ing health conditions con sidered most at risk from the coronavirus are encour aged to take advantage of the special dispensation.

The diocese also said every e tent possible, churches are to remain open for personal prayer, small gatherings and devotions.

SCHOOL SHUTDOWN

PLANS

5hode ,sland’s education commissioner has ordered ev ery school district in the state to prepare a plan in the event they have to close because of the new coronavirus.

ommissioner $ngplica ,nfante reen called on the plans to be submitted by the end of the day on March . The epartment of Education will review these plans and make suggestions to ensure the continuity of learning for 5hode ,sland students, she said.

STATE HOUSE RESTRICTIONS

State lawmakers will con tinue to hold legislative hear ings, but restrictions will be in effect at the State House until further notice.

The eneral $ssembly said Thursday that access to the Senate and House chambers will be restricted to lawmak ers, staff and media.

egislative committees have also been asked to delay hearings on issues that tradi tionally draw large crowds, and the public is encouraged to submit written testimony instead of attending in person.

The eneral $ssembly also said its annual St. Patrick’s ay and St. -oseph’s ay cel ebrations ne t week will be cancelled, as will its reek ,n dependence ay celebration on March .

ABOUT THE VIRUS

)or most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. )or some, especially older adults and people with e isting health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneu monia, and death.

The vast maMority of peo ple recover from the new vi rus. $ccording to the :orld Health Organi ation, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to si weeks to re cover.