The remainder of the 2020 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has been cancelled due to growing coronavirus concerns.
The Houston City Council ordered the show to close after a meeting on Wednesday morning (March 11). Festival organizers agreed to comply and announced that the ground will close at 4 p.m. today.
"In the interest of public health, the City of Houston and the Houston Health Department have ordered the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to close. The Rodeo will respectfully and dutifully comply with the City’s order," a statement on RodeoHouston's website said. "The Rodeo is deeply saddened; however, the safety and well-being of our guests and our community is our top priority. Out of precaution, the City has decided that this is the best course of action for our community."
The 2020 Houston Rodeo kicked off on March 3 and was initially scheduled to run through March 22. Among the artists on the remaining schedule were Kane Brown, Cody Johnson, Keith Urban, Jon Pardi, Dierks Bentley, Chris Stapleton, Luke Bryan, Brad Paisley and more.
Artists and festival organizers continue to cancel and reschedule shows due to the spread of COVID-19. On Tuesday (March 10), the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the Stagecoach Festival were postponed to October. Additionally, Zac Brown Band announced they will be postponing the spring leg of "The Owl Tour" due to the spread of the virus.
So far, health officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed more than 900 cases of the coronavirus in the United States and 29 deaths. Globally, the virus has infected more than 113,000 people and killed more than 4,000 according to the World Health Organization.
To keep up to date on the latest news about the coronavirus and to understand what you need to stay safe and healthy, check out the Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction podcast from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
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