What’s closed, postponed or canceled in Plano because of coronavirus, and other updates

The City of Plano is advising residents to use “wisdom and extreme caution” as the coronavirus continues to spread across North Texas.

Precautionary measures are in place, the city has canceled scores of public events and Plano ISD is on an extended spring break through March 20, pending further developments and the guidance of health officials and other community leaders.

Here’s information about the impact the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has had on Plano.

CORONAVIRUS

What you need to know about coronavirus

BY WIRE SERVICES AND TOM STEELE

City/county updates

A 56-year-old Plano man is the seventh presumptive positive case of coronavirus in Collin County and the second in Plano. According to a statement from the city, the man is quarantined in his home and has no underlying health conditions.

Additionally, a 47-year-old Plano woman is self-isolating in her home, according to county health officials. Her case is not connected to any others in North Texas, officials said.

Collin County is also monitoring at least 63 people, according to the most recent figures available.

Dallas County has reported 14 positive coronavirus tests, though three of those were for out-of-county residents who won’t be included in the total on the Dallas County Health and Human Services website, officials said.

City closures and news

Libraries, rec and senior centers: All classes and programs at Plano libraries, recreation centers and senior centers are canceled indefinitely, according to an announcement by the city, but the facilities will remain open.

“We encourage our community to use extreme caution when considering group gatherings or activities,” a statement on the city’s website reads. “Everyone has a social responsibility to keep our community safe and healthy.”

Plano Municipal Court: The court has suspended all jury trials for the rest of this month.

That includes pretrial hearings and teen court trials set for hearings through March 30. Residents and jurors affected by the changes will receive a written notice from the court about the new date and time of their next hearing, trial or jury service, the city said.

The public is advised to check the back of paper citations, instruction sheets, and electronic citations for options to avoid personal appearances in court, according to a city statement.

All court offices will remain open to the public during regular business hours.

Preventive posters: City staffers are delivering posters across the city with smart health tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to thwart the spread of coronavirus and other respiratory diseases. Organizations and businesses are asked to display the posters in areas where the public and their employees gather.

“Our hope is we can deliver a shared, consistent message to help protect our friends, neighbors and co-workers,” according to a statement by the city.

The posters are intended to help schools, senior living facilities, the Chamber of Commerce, the faith-based community, other city partners and residents. Downloadable copies of the posters are also available and may be printed and displayed as needed.

Additionally, the city has prepared a video about COVID-19 and frequently asked questions. Information is also available on the Inside Plano Podcast.

Event cancellations and postponements

Here are some canceled or postponed Plano events that may have been on your calendar, and here’s a list of events across Dallas-Fort Worth.

Plano Symphony Orchestra: The orchestra has canceled all March performances, citing the “the health, safety, and well-being of every member of the Plano Symphony Orchestra family” and the North Texas community.

The cancellations include the subscription concert on March 21 and school concerts on March 17, 18 and 19.

Ticket holders for “The Young Artists & Ravel’s Bolero” may:

• Donate the tickets and receive a tax deduction for the entire ticket value.
• Exchange the tickets for the “Beethoven’s Emperor” Concert on April 26.
• Receive a credit that may be used during the upcoming season.

Texas Fly Fishing and Brew Festival: The March 21 and 22 festival at Plano Event Center has been canceled.

Plano ISD

The district has extended spring break by one week, closing all schools and offices through March 20 and canceling district activities. On Sunday, the school board held an executive session and voted to approve paying all regular employees during any closures through the end of the 2020-21 school year, Community Impact News reported.

Ongoing monitoring and evaluation will take place before schools are set to reopen Monday, March 23. Updates will be given across the district’s communication channels and its website as soon as they are available.

Travel for student competitions and events outside of the district is being evaluated case by case.

EDUCATION

How long will school be canceled because of COVID-19? ‘It’s not looking good.’

BY EVA-MARIE AYALA

During the closure, students will be able to access digital tools the district provides that support in-class learning. They are available through the PISD Webdesk and the student digital backpack, the district’s website states.

If it is necessary to extend the closure, the district will provide more information on how technology will be used for student learning. Officials are asking families to fill out an online survey to determine students’ ability to access technology outside of school.

“We fully recognize the irony of using an online survey to gather this information,” the city’s website states, adding that “offline” methods will also be used to collect data. You can access the survey at pisd.edu/techaccess.

“Meanwhile, care for yourself, your family and those around you, and continue to adhere to the preventative measures as recommended by public health officials, such as limiting interaction and practicing social distancing,” Superintendent Sara Bonser wrote in a prepared statement.

School meals: Free “grab-and-go” breakfast and lunch meals will be available for curbside pickup at six locations to all Pre-K through 12 students while the district is closed, starting Monday, March 16. The schedule may need to be adjusted, and updates will be posted on this website.

• Breakfast: 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
• Lunch: 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The meals are available only at the following locations:

• Daffron Elementary School, 3900 Preston Meadow Drive
• IB World School at Huffman Elementary,5510 Channel Isle Drive
• Meadows Elementary School, 2800 18th St.
• Sigler Elementary School, 1400 Janwood Drive
• Thomas Elementary School, 1800 Montana Trail
• Rose Haggar Elementary, 17820 Campbell Road, Dallas

Other measures: The district is taking additional steps to clean schools. During spring break, all campuses and school buses were deep cleaned with a hospital-grade disinfectant. Plano ISD has also used auto-scrubber machines to clean and sanitize major hallways and common areas of campuses.