The coronavirus pandemic officially touched town in Boca Raton this week. Here are some of the most important updates from the last few days of developments.
- The City of Boca Raton declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, requiring that all bars and nightclubs close for 30 days. All city facilities, including parks, beaches, libraries, and community centers are closed until further notice.
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order that will close nonessential businesses in Boca Raton and throughout Palm Beach and Broward counties.
- Palm Beach County Schools extended campus closures to April 15 and cancelled all scheduled standardized testing through the end of the academic year.
- The Town Center Mall in Boca Raton, one of the biggest shopping malls in Palm Beach County, has closed in response to the outbreak of COVID-19.
- A six-year-old student at Del Prado Elementary in Boca has tested positive for COVID-19, the Sun-Sentinel reports. It is the youngest confirmed case of the coronavirus in the state.
- Dozens of local restaurants began offering only take-out and delivery services, closing their dining rooms completely. Click here for a list of venues offering pick-up and delivery options.
- Local elections took place as scheduled on Tuesday, despite concerns over the spread of the coronavirus. Click here for results of the Boca Raton and Delray Beach races.
- St. Patrick’s Day celebrations were dampened on Tuesday by growing concerns over the spread of COVID-19, with some local businesses like Boca’s Irishmen Pub opting to voluntarily close rather than host large crowds.
- Theatre producers in Boca Raton shared their thoughts on the creative and financial toll that the ongoing crisis is taking.
