The North Carolina Science Festival team is monitoring the rapidly changing coronavirus outbreak, and consulting with officials and experts about concerns for the safety of Festival participants.

As of March 13, 2020, our recommendation to all partners is to postpone, cancel, or host a virtual event.

We are encouraging everyone to follow guidelines for community events set by NC Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At this time, most large-scale NCSciFest events have been cancelled or postponed. Our partners in smaller communities are continuing to make independent determinations as to whether to cancel their events.

We urge our festival community — program partners and attendees alike — to do what they can to hinder rather than advance the potential spread of coronavirus. For the most current information about the disease and its prevention, please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

This page will be updated as additional information and guidance from the CDC, NC DHHS, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (our parent organization), becomes available.

We recommend all participants take reasonable precautions to protect yourself and others. The CDC recommends following the same guidelines as flu prevention:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.