Cancellations and closures due to COVID-19 concerns

Because the CDC has recommended residents avoid large gatherings, many events in Michiana have been cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.

• Indiana COVID-19 call center 877-826-0011 (press one from general questions, press 2 if you're a health care provider)
• Indiana State Department of Health: Current COVID-19 case count
• Michigan COVID-19 hotline 800-535-6136 (Available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day)
• Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: Current COVID-19 case count

Stores that are open and closed amid COVID-19 concerns
Creative ways to stay entertained while at home during the COVID-19 pandemic
Locations providing free meals to children while schools are closed can be found here

INDIANA AND MICHIGAN

• Most city and county buildings have been closed to the general public except by appointment. Citizens are urged to use official websites to find out their procedures for access or for alternative ways to conduct any necessary business.
• Many utility companies are suspending shutoffs until the threat is over. Please contact your utility company for questions and conditions.
• Area jails are closed to visitation to protect the jail population from the virus. Video visitation is available in many circumstances. Check the sheriff's website for information on video or phone visitation.
• Local police stations and sheriff's offices are asking the public to call the non-emergency line if you need assistance, instead of going to the lobby.
• Humane society, animal shelters: Although the shelters may be closed to the general public, if you are interested in adopting a pet, most agencies are still conducting adoptions by appointment. Check their websites for information on adoption procedures during closures.
• Libraries in Indiana and Michigan are closed to the public, but check out their websites for more information about their digital collections. Many libraries have magazines, movies, music and eBooks available to users with a library card.
• Large venues like the Morris Performing Arts Center, the Century Center and The Lerner Theatre have postponed events. Please check their websites for further information on tickets and dates for events that are rescheduled.
• In Indiana and Michigan, all bars, restaurants and nightclubs are closed to in person and dine-in customers through the end of March. Dining establishments can provide take-out, pickup or delivery. Visit a restaurant's website for more information.

Events

• The South Bend Civic Theatre and the South Bend Symphony Orchestra have postponed the upcoming production of West Side Story. The full theatrical production was originally set to be performed on April 18 and 19 at the Morris Performing Arts Center.
• The Expo for Women scheduled for March 19 at the Century Center has been postponed to a later date.
• Olivet A.M.E. Church has canceled its anniversary celebrations originally scheduled for the weekend of March 21.
• The Underwater Bubble Show Tour at the Lerner Theatre has been canceled. All tickets will be refunded. 
• The 2020 IHN Empty Bowl Soup Benefit hosted by the Goshen Clay Artists Guild has been postponed until further notice.
• The American Democracy Project and League of Women Voters have cancelled three of their candidate events in March. The cancelled events are the March 24 Indiana House of Representatives Primary Debate (District 6), U.S. House of Representatives Primary Debates (District 2), the March 30 Meet the Candidates Forum – Candidates on St. Joseph County Ballot and the April 6 Indiana Senate Primary Debate (District 10) Candidates.
• The Notre Dame Blue-Gold game on April 18 has been cancelled
• St. Joseph Today has postponed BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass. This event has been rescheduled to Saturday, October 3, 2020.
• The Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce has cancelled its April 4 Easter Eggstravaganza.

Schools

• Locations that will provide free meals to children while schools are closed can be found here
• All Michigan schools closed - Governor Gretchen Whitmer ordered that all schools throughout the State of Michigan – both public and private – close down beginning March 16 through April 6.
• St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Bremen begins home based instruction March 18
• The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend closed all 43 Catholic Schools in the 14-county service for a minimum of three weeks.
• Bremen Public Schools will switch over to an online learning environment beginning March 18.
• Middlebury Community Schools will be closed from March 17 through April 13.
• Fairfield Community Schools will be closed from March 17 through April 13.
• Concord Community Schools will be closed from March 16 through April 13.
• Elkhart Community Schools will be closed from March 17 through April 13.
• The Prairie Heights Community School Corporation cancelled all school activities through April 10.
• Baugo Community Schools will be closed from March 17 through April 13.
  
• School City of Mishawaka is closing all schools from March 16 through March 27.
• Eastern Pulaski Schools will be closed beginning March 16 because of COVID-19 concerns. [more info]
• All LaPorte County public schools will be closed until Monday, April 13th.
• All Starke County schools are closed.
• Plymouth Community School Corporation announced that schools will be closed on March 13 and March 16. March 17-19 have been designated as eLearning Days.
• Penn Harris Madison schools: Mondays are teacher prep days and students will take a recess day (not doing school work) March 16, 23 and 30th. Tuesday - Friday: eLearning days for students on March 17-20, March 24-27 and March 31-April 3

COLLEGES

• Indiana University has suspended all in-person classes for the remainder of the spring semester. 
• Saint Mary's College has suspended all in-person classes. Spring break has been extended by one week. Online instruction will run from March 23 through at least April 13. More info
• Holy Cross College has suspended all in-person classes and has ceased all campus operations through April 13. Classes will resume online on March 16. More info
• Lake Michigan College is canceling all classes on March 13. From March 16-23, all in-person classes are canceled. Online classes are continuing as normal. As of March 23, all classes will be through distance learning. More info
• Notre Dame has suspended all in-person classes for the remainder of the spring semester. The university's events including the Grad Fair, Black Man's Think Tank, Admitted Student Days, Blue-Gold Football Game, IDEA Week, and Storm the Stadium are all canceled.
• Ivy Tech Community College is delaying current courses and the start of new courses until March 23. Once classes resume, all classes will be conducted online. [more info]
• Bethel University is suspending in-person classes from March 13 through April 14. All in person classes from March 13 -17 are cancelled to give faculty time to prepare their online classes. On March 18, classes resume online. For adult and graduate students, all face-to-face classes will convert to an online format on March 16. The plan is to resume face-to-face classes on Tuesday, April 14, following Easter break.
• Goshen College will move to online classes on March 19 [more info]
• Grace College has canceled on-campus classes and temporarily closed residence halls until April 13. Classes are canceled March 13 - March 17 to prepare for remote instruction. Classes will move to remote delivery beginning Wednesday, March 18. Grace College will remain open for faculty and staff only. Most special events on campus will be canceled. All Grace College athletic events, including practices, are suspended until April 1.