NEW ORLEANS — The Saenger Theatre and Mahalia Jackson Theater will be closed until further notice due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.
Saenger Theatre General Manager David Skinner announced that both theaters would suspect all performances until further notice after the Governor banned large public gatherings of more than 250 people.
"At this time, we are working toward rescheduling some of our upcoming performances," Skinner said. "We will communicate schedule changes via social media, email and our websites. Ticket holders will be contacted directly."
Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the ban in a sweeping emergency proclamation that also closed all public schools until April 13.
"The limits on gatherings of 250 people or more statewide is based on federal CDC guidance given the community spread which we are currently experiencing," Edwards wrote. "These steps are necessary to protect the health and safety of the people of Louisiana from the risk of COVID-19."
The Louisiana Department of Health announced Friday that the number of presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, the potentially deadly respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, had jumped to 36.
No deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in Louisiana at this time.
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