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What's closed and canceled due to coronavirus threat
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Recess Pub in downtown Gainesville has a sign out front explaining their closure Wednesday, March 18, 2020, on the square. Some stores remain open, but have reduced their hours of operation, however. - photo by Scott Rogers

We know that you need accurate and up-to-date information about the effects of the coronavirus in the state and our region. The Gainesville Times is making this article available free to non-subscribers as a public service. Please consider supporting our work by subscribing to The Gainesville Times.

Businesses and organizations can now upload their own information to this community board. The Times will work to continue updating major closings.

Schools 

  • All public schools are closed through at least April 24; Hall County Schools and Gainesville City Schools are conducting school from home

  • Hall County Schools postpones its kindergarten registration until further notice.

  • Brenau University suspends on-campus classes beginning March 16, with online instruction beginning March 23

  • University System of Georgia institutions, including the University of North Georgia,  conducting online instruction until the end of the semester

  • Piedmont College extends spring break, begins online instruction March 23

  • Lakeview Academy conducting remote school through Friday, April 3

  • Lanier Technical College extends spring break, begins online instruction March 23

  • North Georgia Technical College will move all instruction online for all three campuses beginning March 23. All face-to-face classes continue to be suspended and activities for students and guests are postponed. 

  • Maranatha Christian Academy will be temporarily closed until further notice. 

Government and utilities

  • The presidential preference primary and special election in Hall County set for March 24 are now postponed to May 19

  • Gainesville Parks & Recreation cancels athletics and recreation events through April 26

  • Frances Meadows Aquatic Center closed until further notice

  • Pavilion rentals with Gainesville Parks and Recreation have been cancelled through April 26

  • Gainesville Parks and Recreation Summer Community Theatre auditions set for March 19 will be rescheduled at a later date.

  • Hall County libraries will be closed through April 5. Library fines built up during this time will be waived.

  • Hall County Parks and Leisure programming, including classes, athletic practices, games and other events, suspended for two weeks beginning Monday, March 16. Bathrooms at parks closed.

  • Hall County community centers closed for two weeks beginning Monday, March 16. 

  • Lula City Hall closed to the public until further notice.

  • The Sheriff’s Office North Precinct on Dean Street in Clermont and South Precinct on Cody Drive in Flowery Branch closed to the public. Residents who have administrative business with the Sheriff’s Office may contact headquarters at 770-531-6900.

  • Jackson EMC offices open to drive-thru traffic only March 16-27

  • Court services are limited and some are closed to the public

  • Georgia Department of Labor is temporarily closing its career centers to the public beginning Wednesday, March 18. 

Nonprofit

  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Lanier sites serving Gainesville and Hall school systems closing beginning Monday, March 16.

  • Northeast Georgia History Center closing Saturday, March 14, through Saturday, March 21. All public events canceled through Saturday, March 28. 

  • ITN Lanier is suspending all rides beginning Monday, March 16. It is estimated that rides will resume the week of April 1.

  • Ninth District Opportunity will close all offices Wednesday, March 18, and will stay closed until March 26.

  • The Gainesville-Hall County Senior Life Center will remain closed until April 3. A 15-day supply of shelf-stable foods will be provided to replace the meals seniors receive at the center on weekdays. Once Meals on Wheels clients have received shelf stables, Meals on Wheels services will be suspended through April 3.

  • Several changes are being made at the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia

Business

  • Atlanta Botanical Garden closing through March 30.

  • Chick-fil-A, Bojangles' and McDonald’s have closed all dining areas but will continue to serve customers at drive-thrus.

  • Belk is temporarily closing its stores.

  • JC Penny has temporarily changed its hours from noon to 7 p.m. Monday - Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

  • Bath and Body Works is temporarily closing its stores.

  • Lenscrafters at Lakeshore Mall is temporarily open from noon to 6 p.m. daily.

  • Books-A-Million is temporarily open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday - Saturday.

  • Dicks is temporarily closing its stores. 

  • Luna’s Restaurant is temporarily closing. 

  • Starbucks has closed dine-in seating. 

  • Recess Pub is closed, per sign on its door.

  • Kroger will be open temporarily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. with exclusive shopping for seniors Monday - Thursday from 7-8 a.m. 

  • Aldi will be temporarily open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. 

  • Ulta Beauty stores will be temporarily closing at 6 p.m daily. 

  • Kohl’s will be temporarily closing its stores. 

  • Best Buy will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

  • Publix will be closing at 8 p.m. daily. 

  • Target is temporarily closing at  9 p.m. daily.

  • Walgreens will be temporarily open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

  • Walmart will be open from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

  • Old Navy is temporarily closing its stores. 

  • United Community Bank is open for drive-thru and appointment-only operations. 

  • Wells Fargo Bank is limited to drive-thru operations only. 

  • The Home Depot is temporarily closing at 6 p.m. daily.

Events

  • Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce's job fair planned for March 18 is canceled

  • Several Brenau University events are canceled

  • Georgia High School Association postponing State Literary competitions

  • Hall, Gainesville high school athletics canceled

  • Piedmont College athletic contests and other on-campus events suspended or postponed

  • Grand opening celebrations of Atlanta Botanical Garden Gainesville’s new Children’s Garden planned for March 20 and 21 have been postponed. 

  • Michael Combs gospel concert scheduled for Saturday, March 21, has been postponed to July 10

  • Opening Day of Gainesville's Little League baseball and softball canceled

  • Raptor Fest planned for March 21 at Elachee Nature Science Center is canceled

  • Main Street Gainesville Advisory Board March 17 meeting canceled

  • Gainesville-Hall County Girls Club Reunion for Sunday, March 22, has been postponed

  • The Spring Chicken Festival is postponed until June 20

  • Mutts on Main has been postponed to a date to be determined

  • Any special permits issued by the city of Gainesville for events that do not meet CDC guidelines have been rescinded through the end of April, and the city will not issue new permits for events that would violate the guidelines.

  • All Free Chapel events at physical locations are canceled through March 31. 

Churches

  • Free Chapel cancels Sunday, March 15, service. All services have moved online. 

  • Gainesville First United Methodist Church cancels Sunday services and church activities through March 22. Online worship will be offered at 11 a.m. Sundays.

  • Lakewood Baptist Church cancels all activities through Saturday, April 4.  

  • Grace Episcopal Church cancels Sunday services through at least March 22 and activities through March 29

  • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints suspends all services

  • McEver Road United Methodist Church suspends all church activities including worship through Sunday, March 22.

  • First Baptist Church of Gainesville cancels Sunday services, will livestream and broadcast 10:50 a.m. service. Buildings closed for church-sponsored activities beginning March 16. 

  • First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville cancels Sunday services and activities through March 22. 

  • Lanier Christian Church cancels services at main location on Dawsonville Highway and at Gainesville Marina. A recorded worship will be available online and a live remote worship available at 10 a.m. on the church's social media channels. 

  • St. Paul United Methodist Church on Summit Street cancels services through Sunday, March 22. Service will be streamed live to Facebook page. 

  • The Archdiocese of Atlanta has suspended all public Masses for the next three weeks including the weekends of March 21-22; March 28-29; and April 4-5 Palm Sunday. At St. Michael Catholic Church in Gainesville the sanctuary and chapel is open for private prayer and offices remain open.