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Everything is getting cancelled! Yikes! Just when we thought nothing could go wrong, Coronavirus came along and decided to shake things up. We wanted to avoid the COVID-19 discussion here, but it’s impossible at this point. It’s affecting the entire globe, including PeachTown and a lot of the plans we have for the near future. With that being said, we feel justified in sharing our feelings about the Coronavirus situation.
We have feelings, too.
Bans on Public Gathering
Last week, we saw cancellation after cancellation after cancellation of large events in the US as officials determined they were unsafe due to fears the virus would spread further. Sports games, movie releases, church services, music tours, and groupings of all kinds were suspended nationally. We were particularly bummed to find out Crimes Against Comedy Improv had to cancel their show for this month (read our review of their show HERE). These cancellations are now bringing a torrential rain down on the lives of pretty much everyone, right when we thought we were smooth sailing in an upturned economy.
In Louisiana, Governor John Bell Edwards announced that public schools would be suspended until April 13th (an entire month). In addition, public gatherings of more than 250 people have been banned. There are currently 67 presumptive cases of COVID-19 in the state, and Edwards’s decision is meant to help stop its spread.
How Is the Public Being Affected?
This has people panicking, as many didn’t take the news about Coronavirus seriously when rumors first started circulating. People are wide-eyed now, however, wondering what the true nature of the illness is and how long their lives will be put on hold.
Jobs have been lost, and many businesses have been forced to close and/or cancel their events. Parents are wondering who will take care of their children while they are out of school. A lot of people aren’t sure what actions to take in order to adjust.
How Is PeachTown Being Affected?
We’ve been wondering the same thing here at PeachTown. With the current ban on public grouping, most events that were scheduled to take place during the remainder of this month have been postponed or cancelled entirely. Needless to say, we won’t be covering those. It’s looking like things may not be much better in April.
During this time of caution, we encourage everyone to take proactive measures that will help decrease the spread of the virus, such as practicing good hygiene, being careful while traveling, and staying home if you feel sick. As per recommendations from our local and state governments, we’ll be abstaining from large gatherings.
“…cancellation after cancellation after cancellation…”
To compensate for lack of event coverage, we’ll be producing a lot more original, informative content that helps you further explore Ruston, LA in a way that is both entertaining and educational. Our recent Essentials of Ruston Quiz is indicative of the direction we want to take the site in, and if you haven’t taken it yet, you should do so now!
Final Thoughts
We don’t want to spoil what’s ahead, but know we’re proud of the ideas in our gearbox and can’t wait for you to see what’s in store. We’ll do our best to keep you informed about all our exciting content as we release it. Subscribe to our newsletter to get regular email updates.
We live in a charming city that deserves more attention, and it’s our mission to spread the word. If you don’t already, you’ll grow to love and adore everything about Ruston, LA, the peach town, as we make our way around its growing community, discovering its hidden gems. Stay tuned and follow us on social media to make sure you get ALL the juice!