Remainder Of Houston's Livestock Show And Rodeo Cancelled As Precaution Against Coronavirus

HOUSTON (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors, will be cancelled about halfway through its run as a precaution against the new coronavirus, city and county officials said Wednesday.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Linda Hidalgo said they would be issuing emergency health declarations to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Mayor Turner said on Twitter, "As heartbreaking as it is, we are making this decision in the best interest of those who love our event. Thanks to the fore sight of our executive committee, scholarships to our students will be fulfilled."

Rodeo organizers said the event grounds will close at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday and that they are working on a ticket refund process.

"This is a decision that does not come easily, but the health and safety of people in our region is paramount," Turner said. The news Tuesday that there was a case of an infected person in nearby Montgomery who had not traveled internationally helped officials make the emergency declaration.

The rodeo opened on March 3 and was set to run through March 22. In addition to rodeo events and a livestock show, the event also features a carnival and concerts. Performers so far this year have included Willie Nelson, Chance the Rapper and the K-pop group NCT 127. Performers who were scheduled to perform before the rodeo's end included Lizzo, Keith Urban, Gwen Stefani and Luke Bryan.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered."

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo posted the following statement on its website:

In the interest of public health, the City of Houston and the Houston Health Department have ordered the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ to close. The Rodeo will respectfully and dutifully comply with the City's order.

The Rodeo is deeply saddened; however, the safety and well-being of our guests and our community is our top priority. Out of precaution, the City has decided that this is the best course of action for our community.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has been a fabric of this community since 1932. Having to close early is extremely difficult as guests, volunteers, exhibitors, rodeo athletes and entertainers look forward to the 20 days of the Rodeo each year.

We look forward to the 2021 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to continue to promote agriculture, education, entertainment and Western heritage. We will provide additional information as it becomes available.

(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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