Coronavirus pushes Tampa Bay’s Catholic schools to close

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ST. PETERSBURG — Fourty-seven Catholic schools and early childhood centers in the Tampa Bay area will be closed next week due to the spread of coronavirus, the Diocese of St. Petersburg announced Friday.

Bishop Gregory Parkes made the call in an “abundance of caution” for the nearly 13,000 students and 1,300 employees at Catholic schools in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.

Monday and Tuesday had already been scheduled days off for students and will remain such. Students will receive instruction online Wednesday through Friday, according to a news release by the diocese.

All after-school and sports events at all 47 schools are canceled until schools reopen. Field trips, galas and auctions are canceled until April 17.

While schools are closed next week, maintenance staff will deep-clean campuses, the diocese said. Students and employees who travel during the time off are required to follow whatever Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines are in effect at the time of their return.

For more information and a list of parishes that offer live stream and local broadcasts of Mass, visit the diocese website.

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OTHER CORONAVIRUS WEBSITES:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Florida Department of Health

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