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Coronavirus announcements made:
WHO declares Covid-19 a pandemic, NBA season postponed, no attendance at general conference, March Madness will be played without fans

What were your thoughts regarding any or each of these events as they took place?

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The WHO Just Declared Coronavirus COVID-19 a Pandemic

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The World Health Organization declared spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 a pandemic. Here's what that means.

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Coronavirus announcements made: All church activities cancelled!

What spiritual experiences have you & your family had while having stay-at-home church these last 6 weeks?

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The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent the following letter March 12, 2020, to Church members worldwide. Also see the latest updates on how COVID-19 is impacting Latter-day Saints around the world.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As promised in our letter of March 11, 2020, we continue to monitor the changing conditions related to COVID-19 throughout the world. We have considered the counsel of local Church leaders, government officials and medical professionals, and have sought the Lord's guidance in these matters. We now provide the following updated directions.

Beginning immediately, all public gatherings of Church members are being temporarily suspended worldwide until further notice. This includes:

Stake conferences, leadership conferences and other large gatherings

All public worship services, including sacrament meetings

Branch, ward and stake activities

Where possible, leaders should conduct any essential leadership meetings via technology. Specific questions may be referred to local priesthood leaders. Further direction related to other matters will be provided.

Bishops should counsel with their stake president to determine how to make the sacrament available to members at least once a month.

We encourage members in their ministering efforts to care for one another. We should follow the Savior's example to bless and lift others.

We bear our witness of the Lord's love during this time of uncertainty. He will bless you to find joy as you do your best to live the gospel of Jesus Christ in every circumstance.

Sincerely,

The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

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Update: Gatherings of Church Members Temporarily Suspended Worldwide

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The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent the following letter March 12, 2020, to Church members worldwide. Also see the latest updates on how COVID-19 is impacting Latter-day Saints around the world.

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Governor Herbert closed school for two weeks!

Do you have any hilarious home school stories?

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School closed until May 1st.

If you are home schooling, what have been your struggles? If you are a teacher, have you liked distance learning or no?

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Editor's note: The Salt Lake Tribune is providing readers free access to critical local stories about the coronavirus during this time of heightened concern. See more coverage here.

All public K-12 schools in Utah will now be dismissed until May 1 - extending what was originally anticipated to be two weeks out of the classroom to nearly two months - as the state tries to gain control of the quickly spreading coronavirus.

Gov. Gary Herbert announced Monday that the "soft closure" of schools would be prolonged, saying that the extra time away will be crucial to slow the rate of infection here and help the youngest in the state avoid contracting COVID-19. He had originally called for students to complete their studies at home for two weeks and was set to reevaluate that shutdown this Friday, when the initial period was up. Though his decision came early, it was largely anticipated.

"These are unprecedented times in Utah's and our nation's history," Herbert said in a statement.

The state's cases of the coronavirus have spiked over the past week and a half, from six when the governor first called for the school dismissal to now 257 as he extends it.

Classes will continue online, and with printed packets or other assignments, as they have been since March 16. Districts will still provide meals for students who need them. And by the start of May, Herbert will weigh again whether it's safe for schools to reconvene in-person to finish out the academic year.

The point of the classrooms restrictions, the governor has stressed, is to limit in-person interactions to groups of no more than 10 and slow the spread of the virus through social distancing. As such, the state's public colleges and universities have already moved online for the remainder of the semester.

In addition, Herbert announced Monday that Utah's technical colleges will stop instruction and coursework beginning next week until May 1. The bulk of those classes require hands-on learning, and it's not possible to move them online. Those are the only schools that will be closed entirely, though, and the students there will "be able to seamlessly resume their progress toward completion" after this pause, according to a news release.

K-12 schools will move forward, meanwhile, with individualized plans for each district. Parents should receive emails about those, including staggered times for students to pick up materials, if needed, or whether their child's classes will be done online.

"We recognize that being away from school creates additional work and stress for everyone in our communities," said State Superintendent Sydnee Dickson in a statement. "However, it is a necessary step in stopping the spread of COVID-19."

One persistent concern throughout even just the first week of the school dismissal has been that many families don't have access to technology or Wi-Fi. So in addition to passing out sack lunches, schools have been checking out computers. Chelsie Acosta, a teacher at Glendale Middle School, said the outbreak has further highlighted those types of existing inequities in education.

The students are getting through it, though, and she jokes that she probably misses them more than they miss being in class.

"Goodness, I just like seeing them every day," she added. "It's really difficult not to."

In addition to continuing her coursework, Acosta said she's been trying to reach out to kids in different ways, including SnapChat and Instagram. Her classroom was always a safe space for them to talk about what's going on in their lives, she said, and she wants them to know that space is still available. She has even had some students reach out to her, including after the recent earthquake, to check that she's OK.

The hardest part is that Acosta can't imagine students coming back to school at all this academic year, even after May 1.

"There's just no way," she said. "I don't believe we'll go back until the beginning of next fall."

Already, sports, club meetings and school dances are postponed or canceled. Year-end standardized testing is suspended. And whether graduation ceremonies will go on is still being determined.

Overall, the dismissal impacts roughly 660,000 students statewide across 41 public school districts and 116 charters.

Many parents, too, say it's a hard adjustment, especially when they are trying to work from home during the outbreak. Lana Medina, whose son Dylan goes to kindergarten at Washington Elementary, is balancing her job with his education.

"I'm a little bit daunted by the next six weeks of no school," Medina said.

Her son has already finished the two weeks worth of work that his teachers gave him in a packet. And he's gone up two levels in his online programs.

What he's missing, though, Medina can't give him right now: time with his friends and social interaction with kids his age that he usually gets at school.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Lana Medina learns about some of the fun assignments her son Dylan, 5, had a chance to do on his first day of kindergarten at Washington Elementary on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019.

Dickson acknowledged that extending the school dismissal will be a challenge for many.

To abide by the governor's restrictions on crowds, employees at school buildings will be limited. Teachers are encouraged to work from home, which most have never done. Parents are struggling with the increased demands. And students are burdened with learning a new system for their studies.

"During the uncertainties of the coming weeks," the superintendent noted, "it is more important than ever to remain socially connected with our students and families while doing our best to ensure learning continues."

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Utah's K-12 schools are now dismissed until May 1 due to coronavirus

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Editor's note: The Salt Lake Tribune is providing readers free access to critical local stories about the coronavirus during this time of heightened concern. See more coverage here .

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Olympics officially postponed until 2021.

How did you feel about the Olympics being postponed?

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School officially cancelled for the rest of the school year. UHSAA announces cancellation of all spring sports.

Do you have a senior that is missing out on playing their spring sports or feeling sad about finishing their senior year this way?

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Utah high schoolers are pleading with Utah Governor Gary Herbert to let them play sports.

"Usually, at this time of year, at your local high school, you can hear the crack of a bat hitting a baseball," a YouTube video stated.

The video, titled ' Let Us Play,' was posted to YouTube on Monday, and it's already gaining some traction.

"No laughter, no celebrating," the student in the video says describing what high school playing fields sound like without sports.

The student-athletes argue this could be their last season to play their sport.

In the video, an unnamed student says:

Though this is a very serious situation, there are still things we can do especially for these students who had their school year end so abruptly."

The three-minute YouTube video received more than 15,000 views in less than 24-hours.

In the video, Utah students describe what high school sports mean to them.

They say they have already done a lot to help flatten the curve.

The petition started on April 20 received well above the goal of 4,500 signatures.

On April 14, Gov. Herbert announced students will not be returning to their classrooms this academic year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
TIMELINE: How Utah's school closure dominoes fell

The Utah State Board of Education announced that same day the indefinite cancellation to all spring sports.

Utah State School Superintendent Sydnee Dickson said schools are committed to helping teachers, parents, and students adapt to "the new now."

Student-athletes are now pushing state leaders to lift the restriction.

The video goes on to say:

There are thousands of high school student-athletes in the state of Utah, many of them seniors, who this year is their last chance to earn a scholarship, play with their friends, play for their schools and fulfill their dreams."

According to the petition, students are calling on the governor to reconsider their decision regarding spring sports.

Students suggested starting to play some time at the end of May, with an abbreviated season, and championship games held in July.

Much of the decision-making rests in the hands of the Utah High School Athlete Association (UHSAA).

"For us seniors, we don't get another shot," said one student in the video.

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'Let Us Play': Utah student-athletes pushing Gov. Herbert to let them play sports

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Utah high schoolers are pleading with Utah Governor Gary Herbert to let them play sports. Morgan Saxton reports. (KUTV) “Usually, at this time of year, at your local high school, you can hear the crack of a bat hitting a baseball," a YouTube video stated.

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There are a lot of emotions involved with what is going on around the world right now. I loved how Dude Perfect summarized it so perfectly!

Which stereotype most describes you?

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No graduation!

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Contributed By Sydney Walker, Church News staff writer

Article Highlights

Youth camps and conferences are not to be held until further notice.

All treks and Church pageants are canceled for 2020.

Following the First Presidency's directive to suspend all public gatherings of Church members, Church recreational properties in the United States and Canada used for youth camps and conferences are closed, according to a notice sent to stake and ward leaders on Thursday, April 30. All treks and Church pageants are canceled for 2020.

The notice also states that Aaronic Priesthood quorum camp, Young Women camp, and other overnight youth conferences should not be held until restrictions are lifted. Local leaders may wish to hold technology-based experiences allowing youth to connect with one another.

"When the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles approve gatherings, local priesthood and Young Women leaders may organize youth conference activities at Church meetinghouses," the notice states. In such cases, Church-owned facilities should be used before non-Church properties. Guidelines will be provided when restrictions are lifted.

The Nauvoo Pageant has been rescheduled for July 6-31, 2021, and will continue in future years. The Hill Cumorah Pageant, originally scheduled to end in 2020, will be performed for the final season July 8-10, 13-17, 2021.

An actor portrays Joseph Smith during a performance of the Nauvoo Pageant.

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Church Properties for Camps and Conferences to Close, Treks and Church Pageants Canceled for 2020 - Church News and Events

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Contributed By Sydney Walker, Church News staff writer Article Highlights Youth camps and conferences are not to be held until further notice. All treks and Church pageants are canceled for 2020.