Coronavirus Middletown: Event Cancellations Announced

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Several upcoming city events and programs have been canceled as part of a “comprehensive precautionary strategy” to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, Middletown Mayor Benjamin D. Florsheim announced Wednesday. Based on what is known about the disease and how it spreads, the Centers for Disease Control and Connecticut Department of Public Health are recommending against proceeding with large gatherings of any kind, according to Florsheim.

Florsheim has also ordered city department heads to develop contingency plans to maintain continuity of essential city services in the event of community spread in Middletown, and has authorized the hiring of overtime custodial staff to provide additional cleaning in all city buildings.

“The only way to prevent community transmission of COVID-19 is with a community response to COVID-19,” Florsheim said. “Our events calendar and community programming are a part of what makes Middletown unique, and I do not take this decision lightly. However, the message we are receiving loud and clear from other states and cities that have been hit hard by this outbreak is that they wish they had been more cautious and acted more quickly in a proactive, precautionary way. We are grateful to the people of Middletown for their cooperation and understanding as we work to keep our city healthy.”

A list of event and program cancellations is below. If an event or program is not listed, no decision has been made about its status. Decisions about events beyond the end of April will be made as more information becomes known. Any questions can be directed to the Mayor’s Office at (860) 638-4801. For more information on COVID-19, visit ct.gov/coronavirus.

Mayor’s Office:

Mayor’s Ball (April 18, 2020)

Arts Department:

Arts Advocacy Award Ceremony (March 31, 2020)

Russell Library:

Reader's Theater: "The Wild Women of Winedale" (March 29, 2020)

Russell Library 145th Birthday Extravaganza (April 4, 2020)

Concert: "Songs By American Women Composers" (April 4, 2020)

Preschool After-Hours Art Reception (April 24, 2020)

Recreation and Community Services/Senior Center:

Detroit Hunter & Ray Jacobs Easter Candy Hunt (April 4, 2020)

Youth Fishing Derby (April 25, 2020)

Cancellations are effective for all following Senior Center programs through April 30, 2020:

● ALL BUS TRIPS

● Acrylics & Appetizers

● American Mahjong

● Baking with Heidi

● Better Breathers Club

● Bingo

● Birthday Party

● Bob Ross Painting Class

● Book Club

● Breakfasts

● Chef Ray Cooking Demo

● Civitan Bingo

● Coffee with Ann

● Craft with Heidi

● Cribbage

● Early Bird Dinners

● Fun with Yarn

● Games with Staff

● Hand, Elbow, Foot

● Kahoot Trivia

● LadderBall

● Mahjong

● Medieval Night

● Origami with Roz

● Pizza & A Movie

● Pizza & Game Night with Vox Church

● Pokeno

● Pool/Billiard Room

● Scattergories

● Setback

● Shingles Clinic

● Sing-Alongs

● Socials

● Texas Hold’Em for Fun

● Vinal H.S. Manicures & Tech Support