Virus leads to cancellations

The NBA made news Wednesday when it decided to “pause” the remainder of its season.

At the state level, several contests that would have involved local students have been canceled.

Within the last 24 hours, Indiana High School Color Guard Association and Indiana Percussion Association both announced that the remainder of their season has been canceled because of concerns about the spread of coronavirus. A choir competition that also would have involved Jay County High School students has been canceled as well.

As of midnight Wednesday, Indiana’s count of total positive cases of coronavirus was up to a dozen, including a second case in Hendricks County and a new case in St. Joseph County. Also on the list are Johnson County (three), Marion County (two) and Adams, Howard, Noble and Boone counties (one apiece).

“We don’t have anything here yet that’s been reported,” Heath Butz of the Jay County Health Department said this morning.

His office is working with IU Health Jay Hospital and Jay Schools to develop guidance documents.

Avon Community School Corporation (Hendricks County) canceled classes and related activities until April 6 after an elementary school student in Avon had a presumptive positive test for COVID-19.

Ohio Department of Health has reported four confirmed cases — three in Cuyahoga County and one in Starke County. Mercer County Health Department on Wednesday confirmed that it is “monitoring a person under investigation in Mercer County.”

Jay School Corporation continues to monitor the situation. Students and staff have been advised to stay home if they are sick.

JCHS has canceled its two scheduled overseas field trips. The status of all other field trips is being assessed.

Jay County High School’s winter guard was set to compete Saturday in the Regional A state semifinals, hoping to earn a state berth. It was announced Wednesday that the remainder of the Indiana High School Color Guard Association season has been canceled.

Also canceled Wednesday was Saturday’s Garrett Railroader Rush Invitational show choir competition, where JCHS’s Patriot Edition and Just Treble were set to perform. That event served as an Indiana State School Music Association state qualifier.

Indiana Percussion Association then announced this morning that its board of directors decided at a meeting Wednesday night to cancel the remainder of its season. Jay County had been scheduled to compete Saturday at New Palestine ahead of the state preliminaries March 21.

The IHSAA scheduled a press conference for noon today to “speak to plans” for the remainder of the boys basketball tournament and the gymnastics state finals scheduled for Saturday at Ball State University’s Worthen Arena. As of this morning, Indiana High School Athletic Association tournaments — boys basketball and gymnastics are the only sports still in competition from the winter season — were set to continue as scheduled.

Ball State announced Wednesday that beginning March 16 all in-person classes will be suspended for the remainder of the spring semester. They will be replaced with online classes. The school is also canceling all University-sponsored/funded events of 100 attendees or more.

Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame will shift all classes online beginning March 23. Indiana University had announced its suspension of in-person classes at all of its campuses Tuesday.

In a press release earlier this week, it was indicated that if Jay County Health Department would at any time recommend a school closure, Jay Schools would implement a modified e-learning program. Plans are also in the works with food service provider Chartwells to provide options for a modified school lunch program.

Spring break is scheduled for March 23 through 27.