Important Note: This list is constantly evolving, and WQCS Staff is working to keep it updated. If you are concerned about an event not listed, please contact the hosting organization.
Click here for the latest from St. Lucie County St. Lucie County Schools
Click here for the latest from Martin County Martin County Schools
Click here for the latest from Indian RIver County Indian River County Schools
Click here for the latest from the City of Ft. Pierce Indian River State College
Click here ror the latest from the City of Port St. Lucie Okeechobee County
Click here for the latest from the City of Stuart Brevard County
Businesses considered critical that can remain open as listed from The Palm Beach Post:
Hospitals, doctors’ and dentists’ offices, pharmacies, urgent care centers, physical therapists; mental health professionals; labs; blood banks, home health agencies
Grocery stores, farmers’ markets, food banks, convenience stores, liquor stores
Food cultivation businesses, including fishing, livestock and farming
Businesses that provide food, shelter, social services and other necessities for economically disadvantaged or needy people
Newspapers, television, radio and other media
Gas stations, automobile dealerships, auto-supply and auto-repair shop
Banks and financial institutions, including insurance firms and adjusters
Hardware stores
Contractors and other trades, appliance repair, exterminators, janitorial services, home security firm
Postal services
Florida coronavirus stats made simple
Private colleges, trade schools and technical colleges as needed to provide online or distance learning
Laundromats, dry cleaners
Office supply stores
Businesses that supply other businesses
Airlines, taxis, and other private transportation provider
Assisted living facilities, nursing homes, adult day care centers, home-based care
Law firms, accountants and other professionals, including architects, engineers and land surveyors
Landscape and pool care services
Childcare facilities, but the children should be in groups of 10 or less
Businesses operating at airports, seaports or government facilities
Warehouses, factories, bottling plants, trucking companies
Telecommunications providers, including computer stores
Hotels and motels if they are providing rooms to essential workers, domestic violence victims, displaced people or people using hotels as transitional housing. No new reservations from the public are permitted
Veterinarians, pet stores and pet boarding facilities
Mortuaries, funeral homes, and cemeteries
Gun stores
Any business employing five or few people who do not regularly interact with the public or can practice social distancing
Electrical production and distribution services
Waste management
Moving and storage companies were deemed “critical” by Palm Beach County in its own emergency order.
The Port St. Lucie Business Women have rescheduled its 30th annual Fashion Show for September 26, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, at Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club, 12600 NW Harbour Ridge Blvd., Palm City.
The Department of Environmental Protection announces that at the direction of Governor DeSantis and to successfully uphold CDC guidance to maximize social distancing and avoid gatherings larger than 10 people, DEP will close all Florida State Parks to the public effective Monday, March 23.
St. Lucie County Closes Beaches in Response to COVID-19 Protective Measures
In an effort to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, St. Lucie County will be closing access to all county beaches on North and South Hutchinson Island effective Monday, March 23 at 8 a.m. until further notice. St. Lucie County’s Emergency Management team has been monitoring the use of beaches and outdoor facilities since last week regarding the public’s participation in following the social distancing guidelines from the Center for Disease Control. Unfortunately, residents and visitors are not following the CDC’s recommendations of limiting unnecessary travel and avoiding gatherings of more than 10 people. If residents continue to disregard these recommendations, additional closures are likely to continue.
For additional information and updates relating to COVID-19 in St. Lucie County, please visit: www.stlucieco.gov/covid-19.
To protect the health and well-being of residents and visitors, Martin County will be closing all county-owned beaches to public access until further notice. This does not apply to property owners, residents and visitors at beachfront properties, who may access the beach via private access. The beach closure will go into effect at sunset Sunday, March 22. The closure includes Sand Dune Cafe at Jensen Beach.
Hobe Sound Public Beach will be closed until further notice
All city and county beaches in Indian River County will close in Indian River County at the end of the day On March 22nd
Visitation at Cleveland Clinic hospitals and outpatient locations on the Treasure Coast has been restricted
Restaurants and food-service establishments in Florida have been directed to close dining rooms and use their kitchens solely for takeout and delivery purposes through May 8, according to an executive order issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis
All SCORE Treasure Coast in-person workshops and face-to-face mentoring sessions are suspended until further notice. On-line support continues to be available. More info at http://treasurecoast.score.org | score308@bellsouth.net or 7724890548
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) will temporarily suspend all camping on District-managed lands for 60 days, effective tomorrow, Thursday, March 19.
Th District is following the guidance of Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to minimize activities that result in gathering of large groups of people. Individuals currently camping within established SFWMD-managed campgrounds are allowed to remain in the campground until 10 a.m. on Monday, March 23, at which time the campground will be closed. Public access to District-managed lands for recreational purposes, other than camping, remains open at this time. Any changes in public access that may be necessary to ensure public safety will be communicated to the public as they develop. SFWMD continues to coordinate with the Florida Division of Emergency Management and follow guidance from the Florida Department of Health and CDC regarding COVID-19. For questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, visit FloridaHealth.gov/COVID-19 or contact the Department of Health’s 24/7 COVID-19 Call Center by calling 866-779-6121
As Martin County’s Community Theatre for the last 50 years, The Barn Theatre’s primary concern is always for our volunteers and audience. Due to the health threat to our patrons and volunteers, The Barn Theatre has postponed the productions of our current show, “Noises Off”, and our April fundraising concert until further notice. Our final show of the season, “You Should Be So Lucky”, May 7 – May 24, is still scheduled. We will, of course, continue to follow the recommendations of appropriate Federal and local authorities in this matter and evaluate the situation daily.
Atlantic Classical Orchestra: To Our Loyal ACO Patrons and Friends,
Thank you for your patience as we worked through how best to address the current global crisis. Our greatest concern at the Atlantic Classical Orchestra is your health and well-being, as well as that of our musicians, guest artists, staff, and volunteers. Therefore, we have made the decision to cancel the Masterworks Series IV Concert and Chamber Concerts in all venues, as well as all other scheduled ACO activities through April 2020.
Due to the growing concerns of the new coronavirus, the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast (HSTC) is putting the following practices into place from March 18 until at least Wednesday, April 8, at which time further evaluations will be done.
CareerSource Research Coast has temporarily closed all career centers to the public and implemented virtual services in response to coronavirus. Executive management has also activated an emergency response plan called “TELEWORK,” which outlines CSRC’s local operating procedures and work from home policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In order to serve the immediate needs of clients, employers and the general public, CSRC will initiate virtual services by leveraging technology to conduct and/or schedule appointments, send and receive
St. Lucie County
Indian River State College Moves Classes Online: In response to the latest guidance issued by Centers for Disease Control and the Florida Department of Health, Indian River State College (IRSC) will deliver all classes in an online format when it returns from Spring Break next week until further notice.Hybrid classes (blend of online & face-to-face) will be delayed for one week and shift to completely online on March 30th. Face-to-face classes will be delayed for one week and be adjusted to an online format where possible on March 30th. Workforce programs that require in-person contact hours (such as Cosmetology, Construction, and Industrial Education programs) will resume March 30th with alternative plans so students may complete the semester. Faculty members will be contacting students in these programs. Please continue to check the IRSC website calendar for updates on event status. The College will disseminate information regarding the coronavirus throughout Spring Break via College email, the College website at www.irsc.edu, and IRSC social media channels.
The April 2, 2020 St. Lucie Audubon meeting and presentation has been Cancelled.
St. Lucie Public Schools Child Nutrition Services will be serving meals for students in our community, from 11:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M., Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 20, 2020 at the following schools: Chester A. Moore Elementary: 827 N 29th St, Fort Pierce, FL 34947 Northport K8: 250 NW Floresta Dr, Port St. Lucie, FL 34983 Treasure Coast High School: 1000 SW Darwin Blvd, Port Saint Lucie, FL 34953
John Carroll High School will be closed through Friday, March 27 due to the threat of COVID-19. John Carroll follows the decisions of St. Lucie County, the state of Florida and the Diocese of Palm Beach regarding school closures. Extracurricular activities and sporting events, including practices, are canceled effective Monday, March 16. In the event of John Carroll closing past March 27, teachers will begin instructing students utilizing the school’s 1:1 iPad program and technology and apps as dictated in its Distance Learning Plan.
Once it is deemed safe to return to campus, parents and faculty will be notified by school administration via email, as well as announcements on the school’s website and social media platforms.
St. Lucie County Schools: Schools will remain closed through March 27th.
City of Ft. Pierce: After careful consideration of the guidelines issued by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health, measures are being implemented to protect the public. The following events have been postponed or canceled:
Postponed: Sandy Shoes Seafood & Brew
Canceled: St. Patrick’s Day on 2nd St. Jazz on Moore’s Creek Friday Fest Downtown Farmer’s Market Jazz Market Wednesday Green Market Dancin’ in the Streets Jazz Week Restoring the Village Diabetes Walk Manatee Center 5K Waterside Blues Fool’s Day 5K
Sunrise Theatre: all performances at the Sunrise Theatre for the Performing Arts and Black Box have been postponed or canceled through April 3, 2020
Weekend Planetarium Shows at the Hallstrom Planetarium at Indian River State College are canceled
Fitness Facilities at Indian River State College, Main Campus, Fort Pierce: The Pool facility is closed for Public Swim. The Student Workout Facility (aka Student Gym) is closed during Spring Break, with the exception of approved athletic teams
A Day for Autism: Hosted by Florida Atlantic University's Center for Autism and Related Disabilitiesin Port St. Lucie has seen been canceled until further notice. It was scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 15th, from 1-p.m. at Sportsman's Park West at 186 N.W. Irving St.
Blue-Green Algae Task Force: The task force meeting scheduled for March 16, at Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute has been postponed. A Florida Department of Environmental Protection new release announcing the action as "part of a broad effort to protect public health" did not specify when the meeting would be rescheduled.
Port St. Lucie's St. Patrick's Day Festival: The festival was scheduled to take place on Friday, March 13 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and on Saturday, March 14 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. outside the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center, at 9221 S.E. Civic Center Place. Up to 10,000 people have attended the city’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival in past years. While there are no confirmed cases of the virus in Port St. Lucie, the city is taking this proactive measure to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute: The division of Florida Atlantic University at Fort Pierce has postponed the final two events in the Ocean Science Lecture Series, scheduled for March 11 and 18, and the final event of the Marine Science Fridays Lecture Series, scheduled for March 13 The lectures could be rescheduled as early as next month.
St. Lucie County fire stations: All open houses have been canceled until further notice.
Sandy Shoes Seafood & Brew: Main Street Fort Pierce has postponed the event, which was to take place March 21 at Indian River Veterans Memorial Park in Fort Pierce.
Indian River County
The Friday, March 20, meeting of the Indian River Cancer Support Group that was set to hear about VNA Hospice services, is cancelled.The meeting, featuring speaker Meg Cunningham of the VNA, was going to be at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1301 Sebastian Blvd., Sebastian.
Under the Oaks Arts and crafts show is canceled
The Vero Beach Museum of Art: canceling ALL public programs and Museum Art School classes as a precautionary measure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic through April 19, 2020.
Indian River County Schools: The State Board of Education ordered the closure of all schools next week Monday 3/16-3/20, and the following week, 3/23-3/27, which is our scheduled spring break. Starting Monday 3/16, and extending throughout the 2 week school closure, all school-related activities, including athletics, are canceled. If school closures should extend beyond the 2 week period, at that time, we will activate our instructional provision plan and provide more information regarding access to devices. Food buses will be at summer stop locations starting Monday 3/16, to provide lunch to children 18 and younger. Starting Wednesday, breakfast will be added to our food bus options. Schedules and stop locations will be provided on our website and social media platforms. All 12 month employees are required to report to work next week. This is is a step that is being ordered across the state in order to ensure the health and safety of our community. Additional updates will be forthcoming. If you have questions or concerns, please visit this page or follow our District social media for posts relating to coronavirus.
First Presbyterian Department of Music and Arts. The piano concert featuring Sergey Belyavsky alongside Dr. Jacob Craig, Director of Music and Arts at First Presbyterian, has been postponed due to the European travel ban. Mr. Belyavsky will be unable to travel from Russia to the United States for the previously advertised performance date. The new tentative date for the performance Friday, April 24, at 7:00pm in the First Presbyterian Church sanctuary, 520 Royal Palm Boulevard, Vero Beach.
Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative: The following events have been canceled: Pre-K Party and Kindergarten Round-up scheduled for April 4 and the Moonshot Symposium: What's Good for Babies is Good for Business scheduled for April 14.
Vero Beach Choral Society: The Vero Beach Choral Society's March 15th concert is cancelled.
Vero Beach Book Center: The Vero Beach Book Center cancelled Martha Hall Kelly event on March 14th and the Harlan Coben event on March 23rd
Martin County
Bookmania is canceled
The Martin County School District's Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) Department will serve free meals to children in the Martin County community from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday, March 23 - Friday, March 27, 2020. Meals will be served to children aged 18 and under at the following locations: J.D. Parker Elementary School - 1010 E. 10th Street, Stuart, FL 34994 Port Salerno Elementary School - 3260 SE Lionel Terrace, Stuart, FL 34997 Warfield Elementary School - 15260 SW 150th Street, Indiantown, FL 34956 Hours of operation at each site are subject to change depending on community participation. Additional questions about the meal program should be directed to Food & Nutrition Services at (772) 223-2655.
Martin County Schools closed: After careful consideration and continued conversation with public health experts and officials at the Florida Department of Education, the decision has been made to close all Martin County School District-operated schools effective Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27, 2020. During this time, we will continue to evaluate expert guidance as it becomes available and make decisions about the reopening of the District with the best interest of our students and employees in mind. While many programs and activities had been previously canceled or rescheduled, all remaining athletic events, field trips and extracurricular activities have been canceled effective Monday, March 16, 2020. All Extended Day Programs will be closed for the time period of March 16 - March 27, 2020. All "Use of Facilities" agreements for the month of March have been canceled. Notices about activities, programs and events being resumed will be communicated as these decisions are made.
Martin County Amateur Radio Club: Stuart Hamfest Cancellation - in light of recent developments with the Coronavirus we regret to announce that the 2020 Stuart Hamfest scheduled for March 21, must be cancelled until further notice. If we are able to reschedule our event at a later date, we will notify the public.
Lyric Theatre: The Lyrics Youth Arts Celebration scheduled for April 4th is postponed. Future date to be announced. Sierra Hull on March 23rd cancelled. Call the Lyric to check on other shows and for more information. 772-286-7827
Mutt March Festival and Waterfest organizers cancel upcoming March 28 events:
The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast’s Mutt March Festival and the City of Stuart’s Waterfest events have been canceled. Both events were scheduled for Saturday, March 28, at Memorial Park, 300 SE Ocean Blvd. from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The humane society’s 5K race, which was slated to precede the Mutt March festival at 8 a.m., also has been canceled. For more information, contact Courtney Zanetti at czanetti@hstc1.org or 772-600-3211
Elliott Museum: The Elliott Museum is postponing its 24th Annual Classics at the Beach Car Show, sponsored by McKee’s 37, due to concerns regarding the new coronavirus. The event was scheduled for Saturday, March 21, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Hutchinson Island, 825 NE Ocean Blvd., in Stuart
Charles & Rae Kane Center: The home to the Council on Aging of Martin County, canceled all active senior programming through at least March 13.The goal is to protect the vulnerable clients and patients at the adult day program and Day Medical Center primary-care practice while she pulls together an adequate screening process for classes.
Southeast Honor Flights: The two spring flights that treat war veterans to visit memorials in Washington, D.C. have canceled April 11 and May 30 flights but will take those veterans on its fall flights, Sept. 26 and Oct. 24.
Palm Beach County
The Norton Museum of Art will close to the public through March 31. In the interest of ensuring the well-being of our staff, volunteers, and visitors, we will continue to evaluate the situation as it evolves. All activities during this period, including offsite outreach and docent programs, will be canceled or rescheduled. Please consult our website, norton.org, for updates.
The Kravis Center: The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts announces that it is closing effective today through March 30 due to the COVID-19 Virus “We have been closely monitoring the progression of the virus and that led us to making the difficult but necessary decision to suspend all performances and events through March 30,” says Judith Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer. “Our top priority as always is the health and safety of all those who visit the Kravis
Palm Beach International Boat Show: The event has been postponed because of global health concerns, Please visit their website for updates.
Okeechobee County
Brevard County
Central Florida Chamber Winds: The Board of Directors of Central Florida Winds has decided to CANCEL their April 26, 2020 concert. The May 31 concert of the Central Florida Winds is still scheduled, but under review. For current information please go to: cfwinds.com
Brevard Symphony Orchestra: THE BSO CONCERT FOR FRIDAY 3/13/2020 HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Please monitor Facebook, www.irsymphonic.org and your email for updates concerning this performance and a possible rescheduling of the event. Please also watch for announcements concerning the April 3 concert. Our primary concern is to keep our patrons safe and healthy during this difficult time. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this last minute change.
Melbourne Chamber Music Society: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center on March 27, at 7:30 pm at St. Mark's Church, Indialantic, FL That concert has been cancelled.