City, school district responds to disaster declaration due to COVID-19

By BRITTANY FHOLER

Cove Leader-Press

Following the local disaster declaration issued by the Coryell County Judge on Friday afternoon after a Laerdal employee in Gatesville was noted to be presumptive positive for COVID-19, the city of Copperas Cove has cancelled or postponed public events including Saturday’s Daddy Daughter Dance and all Parks and Recreation sports.

The Daddy Daughter Dance was scheduled for Saturday, March 14 and has been tentatively rescheduled for May 2.

Ticket purchases for the dance will be on standby until further notice. Those who have already purchased tickets may hold onto those until the rescheduled date or they can contact Parks and Recreation to initiate the refund process.

The Parks and Recreation Department has also cancelled all soccer, baseball, softball and T-ball practices and games.

According to a comment on the Parks and Recreation Facebook page, the coaches are still in the process of picking up their team rosters and will contact parents to let them know which team their child will be one, but practices will remain on hold.

The Copperas Cove Fire Department cancelled a badge pinning ceremony that had been scheduled for Friday afternoon. No information has been released on a rescheduled date.

The CCFD took to social media on Saturday to address the impact of the virus on services in the city.

“Although we have NO KNOWN CASES in Copperas Cove, this virus could have the potential to temporarily reduce our staffing and disrupt our normal response capabilities. So, to help prevent this, we are cooperating with our brothers and sisters in blue at the Police Department Dispatch,” Chief Michale Neujahr stated. “In the event you have to call 911 for an ambulance, expect you may have to answer additional questions asked by the 911 dispatchers. They're not doing this to be nosey, but rather to provide you the most appropriate resources while providing a safe encounter for both you and my crews. If you feel you have any flu-like symptoms or fever, please let the 911 dispatcher know.”

The Copperas Cove Independent School District has extended spring break for another week, with students now scheduled to return to class on Monday, March 23, 2020.

The district also postponed its State of the District luncheon which was scheduled for Thursday, March 19.

Texas A&M University-Central Texas and Central Texas College have also joined other colleges and universities across the country in cancelling classes next week. Both campuses were on spring break this week.

The Veterans Benefits Expo and all shows at the Mayborn Science Theater have also been cancelled, according to a news release from CTC. The spring break extension does not apply to online and blended courses currently in progress or starting on Monday, March 16, but the face-to-face portion of the blended classes will be postponed or moved to the online format, according the release.

CTC employees will resume their normal work schedule Monday with a “focus on continued planning and preparation for a virtual instruction and work environment should the need arise,” the release continues. A&M Central Texas employees, including student workers, will also resume their normal work schedule on Monday.