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Country music fans head to concert despite Health Department warning

Posted at 10:26 PM, Mar 11, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-12 00:04:10-04

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Corpus Christi-Nueces County Health officials are urging everyone to avoid large crowds in order to avoid the potential spread of Coronavirus Covid-19.

Nueces County and Corpus Christi leaders joined health officials for Wednesday's news conference in which health officials announced there are no confirmed cases of Coronavirus Covid-19 in Nueces County. They also ensured everyone that handwashing was very important along with social distancing.

"Six feet because when you sneeze that's how the coronavirus is spread. It can go up to six feet," Health District Director Annette Rodriguez explained.

Despite the warning, about 7,500 country music fans packed the American Bank Center for Wednesday night's Chris Stapleton concert. It's one of the venue's largest concerts of the year and the American Bank Center took several precautions before the big show.

According to a spokesperson for the American Bank Center, employees deep cleaned the entire building before the concert and set up several hand sanitizer stations around the venue.

Management also made sure their staff was healthy.

Several concertgoers said since there aren't any confirmed Coronavirus Covid-19 cases in the Coastal Bend, they weren't worried.

"I have no conerns," Janet Lowe said, "We're not gonna touch our face, not cough Wash our hands. We know all of the suggestions."

Her friend Judy Vanmeter said they had confidence in the American Bank Center.

School teacher Norma Ortegon also said she she didn't travel much and wasn't worried about attending the Stapleton concert.

"We don't have anything to worry about the Coronavirus because we're sitting far enough away from the band that they can't sneeze on us. So, if anyone is carrying Coronavirus, they're too far away from us," Ortegon said.

Meanwhile, the next big concert coming to town is the "Cody Johnson and Friends Spring Break on the Coast" Concert Saturday at Concrete Street Amphitheater.

According to General Manager Mark Schaberg, it's the first show of the season and there are no plans to cancel it.

"The venue has been sitting dormant since last year. Everything has been deep cleaned and is ready for a great event," Schaberg said, "Additionally, we are adding additional hand washing stations in public areas outside of the restrooms, sanitizers on every counter and at the entries as well as signs / announcements encouraging best hand washing practices."