Historic Spanish Point and the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature will both close to the public effective today, March 17, 2020. The Bishop said in a release this morning that it has cancelled all museum programming through the end of the month and planned to reopen on March 30. Historic Spanish Point said it would continue to evaluate the situation but did not announce a reopening date. Both organizations' closings are in line with what other museums and attractions in the area are doing, including The Ringling, Selby Gardens and Mote. 

As of noon today, the Florida Department of Health reported 173 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the state and six deaths. Manatee County currently has six cases, and Sarasota County has three.