Explore UT canceled due to local disaster declaration over coronavirus

AUSTIN, Texas - The University of Texas at Austin has canceled Saturday's Explore UT event due to the City of Austin declaring a local state of disaster over concerns of the coronavirus.

UT Austin says the event brings thousands of out-of-town residents — including many young children — to campus, where they participate in high-touch, interactive, hands-on programs for hours at a time. 

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"In close consultation with local health officials, we plan to maintain all other programs, classes and operations, as we continually monitor the rapidly-changing situation surrounding COVID-19," UT Austin says in the release.

Dubbed the biggest open house in Texas, the event was expected to attract nearly 50,000 prospective students, teachers, and their families to the university's campus on March 7. 

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