Catholic Diocese schools in Las Vegas cancel athletics and travel

Parishioners find there is no holy water available for Sunday Mass at St. Anne's Catholic Church on Sunday, March 15, 2020 in Las Vegas. Due to the coronavirus outbreak the Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas has released area Catholics from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass for the next three weekends. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Monsignor Gordon, purple, begins Sunday Mass at St. Anne's Catholic Church where parishioners were asked to use social distancing on Sunday, March 15, 2020 in Las Vegas. Due to the coronavirus outbreak the Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas has released area Catholics from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass for the next three weekends. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Parishioners pray during Sunday Mass at St. Anne's Catholic Church where they were asked to use social distancing on Sunday, March 15, 2020 in Las Vegas. Due to the coronavirus outbreak the Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas has released area Catholics from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass for the next three weekends. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Janet O'Donnell, left, gives the holy sacrament to another parishioner during Sunday Mass at St. Anne's Catholic Church where they were asked to use social distancing on Sunday, March 15, 2020 in Las Vegas. Due to the coronavirus outbreak the Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas has released area Catholics from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass for the next three weekends. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Monsignor Gordon raises up the Bible during Sunday Mass at St. Anne's Catholic Church where parishioners were asked to use social distancing on Sunday, March 15, 2020 in Las Vegas. Due to the coronavirus outbreak the Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas has released area Catholics from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass for the next three weekends. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Elderly parishioners pray during Sunday Mass at St. Anne's Catholic Church where they were asked to use social distancing on Sunday, March 15, 2020 in Las Vegas. Due to the coronavirus outbreak the Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas has released area Catholics from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass for the next three weekends. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Parishioners pray during Sunday Mass at St. Anne's Catholic Church where they were asked to use social distancing, hand washing and sanitizers on Sunday, March 15, 2020 in Las Vegas. Due to the coronavirus outbreak the Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas has released area Catholics from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass for the next three weekends. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

A parishioner prays during Sunday Mass at St. Anne's Catholic Church where they were asked to use social distancing on Sunday, March 15, 2020 in Las Vegas. Due to the coronavirus outbreak the Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas has released area Catholics from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass for the next three weekends. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Monsignor Gordon raises the chalice during Sunday Mass at St. Anne's Catholic Church but parishioners will not drink from it on Sunday, March 15, 2020 in Las Vegas. Due to the coronavirus outbreak the Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas has released area Catholics from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass for the next three weekends. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Notes in English and Spanish read that there is no holy water in the font currently for Sunday Mass at St. Anne's Catholic Church on Sunday, March 15, 2020 in Las Vegas. Due to the coronavirus outbreak the Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas has released area Catholics from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass for the next three weekends. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

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By Julie Wootton-Greener Las Vegas Review-Journal

March 13, 2020 - 10:45 am

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas announced Friday it’s temporarily suspending all in- and out-of-state travel, athletics, extracurricular activities, assemblies and events at its private schools until further notice.

The diocese — which has a total of 3,900 students at six elementary/middle schools and two high schools, including Bishop Gorman High School — made the decision as a result of the COVID-19 virus.

In a Friday statement, the Catholic Diocese said: “Decisions regarding the Catholic Schools will closely parallel the public school system and (are) based upon information from the Southern Nevada Health District.”

The Catholic Diocese’s schools will remain open and classes will continue as normal.

“If more information becomes available that would dictate a closure, the Diocese of Las Vegas has a plan in place, should the need arise,” according to the statement.

The decision comes on the heels of the Clark County School District’s announcement last week to suspend out-of-state travel in response to coronavirus concerns and the decision Thursday to suspend extracurricular activities, athletic events and assemblies.

The Clark County School District said Thursday it has no plans to close any schools at this point.

A handful of Las Vegas Valley schools have announced closures, including the private The Meadows School and Alexander Dawson School in Summerlin. UNLV and UNR announced they’re transitioning to online-only instruction March 23, following spring break.

Contact Julie Wootton-Greener at jgreener@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2921. Follow @julieswootton on Twitter.