Concerts, other live performances set for Columbia called off by coronavirus threat
Several big name musicians, comedians and other performers have postponed or canceled scheduled shows in Columbia as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Venues like Colonial Life Arena, the Township Auditorium and The Senate have all had acts call off upcoming shows.
Part of the reason events are being scrapped is because of social distancing, which has become unofficial policy in South Carolina.
“All gatherings should be limited to 100 people or less,” South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said Sunday when addressing the rising number of COVID-19 cases.
Colonial Life Arena has a capacity to hold 18,000 people, while more than 3,000 can see a show at the Township Auditorium, and 1,200 can fill The Senate.
Below is a list of performances that have been affected:
Colonial Life Arena
CANCELED
▪ Disney on Ice Presents World of Enchantment — April 30-May 2
▪ Cirque du Soleil: Crystal — July 15-19
POSTPONED
▪ Birthday Bash, featuring NBA YoungBoy, Rod Wave, Mulatto, and Toosii, among others — March 28
▪ Monster Jam monster truck show — April 3-4
▪ The Fabulously Funny Comedy Festival, featuring Mike Epps, Sommore, Lavell Crawford, Gary Owen and Kountry Wayne — April 17
Township Auditorium
POSTPONED
▪ Cody Johnson — March 20
▪ Jill Scott — March 21
▪ The Price Is Right — April 10
▪ Big Gigantic — April 15
▪ Baby Shark Live! — May 11
The Senate
POSTPONED
▪ Runaway Gin: A Tribute to Phish — March 20
▪ Dark Star Orchestra — March 31
▪ Cola Jazz Festival — April 4
▪ Dabin — April 22
▪ Dance Gavin Dance — May 14
No makeup dates have been made for the postponed events.
“Ticket holders are encouraged to retain their tickets as info regarding the rescheduled date is forthcoming and all previously purchased tickets will be honored,” Colonial Life Arena officials said. “Updates will be provided as quickly as possible. Refunds will also be available at point of purchase.”
There are several more events scheduled at all of the venues.
Although he has postponed the first leg of his North American tour, Elton John is still scheduled to perform at Colonial Life Arena on May 22. That show, the second in Columbia on his farewell tour, is set to kickoff the second leg, Rolling Stone reported.
Other artists still scheduled to perform at Colonial Life Arena include The Millennium Tour featuring Omarion, Bow Wow, Ashanti, Ying Yang Twins (April 12); Monday Night Raw (April 20); Jimmy Buffett (April 23); Columbia R&B Spring Fest featuring Keith Sweat, Brian McKnight, El DeBarge, Dru Hill & Tevin Campbell (April 25); MayDay II featuring Snoop Dogg and Erykah Badu (May 10); JoJo Siwa (May 20); Trolls LIVE! (June 19-21); Alabama (July 10); and Justin Bieber (July 27).
Among some of the events still scheduled at the Township Auditorium include Brett Young (April 17); Shinedown (April 19); Smashing Pumpkins (May 6); Travis Tritt (May 22); and Steve Martin & Martin Short (Sept. 20).
There were 33 reported cases of coronavirus across South Carolina, the Department of Health and Environmental Control said Monday. That includes a Lexington man who was the first COVID-19 patient in South Carolina to die.
As of Tuesday morning, 185,067 people worldwide have been diagnosed with coronavirus and 7,330 people have died, while 80,237 recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. In the United States, 4,661 people have been diagnosed with the novel virus. In the U.S. 85 deaths have been reported, including 48 in Washington state, according to Johns Hopkins.
Symptoms of coronavirus vary from mild to severe and include coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath, according to the CDC.
The best way to prevent infection is to frequently wash hands for 20 seconds; avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth; avoid contact with sick people and clean frequently touched objects with a cleaning spray or wipe, according to the CDC. DHEC also recommends covering your cough, staying home when sick, and disposing tissues and other items that you’ve sneezed or coughed into.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
DHEC is encouraging people to practice “social distancing” to help stop the spread of the virus. Social distancing is staying away from unnecessary interactions with sick people and from large groups of people; it also calls for remaining at home unless it is absolutely necessary to go out.
Free online screenings also can be accessed by all South Carolina residents, by going to scdhec.gov/COVID19.
Prisma Health is also offering free access to medical professionals for those who think they may have coronavirus, The State reported. People experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can go to https://www.prismahealth.org/virtual-visit/ and schedule a free online visit, Prisma officials said.
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 12:51 PM.
