SHUTDOWNS IN SEATTLE & SF (UPDATE)

The governor of Washington has banned gatherings of more than 250 people in the Seattle-Tacoma area through at least the end of March.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced Wednesday night a similar statewide ban on all public gatherings for four weeks, beginning today (3/12).

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee ordered that events with more than 250 people — including sporting events, conventions, concerts and more — are prohibited in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties throughout March and possibly beyond.

“This is not a time to be going out into public in close contact,” Inslee said. “It’s just too dangerous.”

The Seattle/Tacoma ban greatly affects the 3,000-seat Paramount Theater, which had Wilco booked on 3/18, AEG Presents’ 1,100-capacity Showbox, which had a calendar packed with artists such as Grace Potter, Drive-By Truckers and Allen Stone, and the 1,000-capacity Neptune Theater, whose calendar included SAINt JHN on 3/18 and Tennis on 3/31.

If the ban is extended, the first large-scale concerts potentially affected are two at the Tacoma Dome: Billie Eilish on 4/10 and Celine Dion five days later.

Down the road, the 27,000+ capacity Gorge Amphitheater doesn’t get its season started until 5/2 with Sturgill Simpson and has a light May slate with just Journey/The Pretenders and Braid Paisley on the docket.

The season at Live Nation’s White River Amphitheatre in Auburn, Wash., doesn’t begin until 6/2 when Halsey performs.

In San Francisco, health officials followed Washington's lead, announcing they were prohibiting public and private events of 1,000 or more.

Mayor London N. Breed said “we know that this order is disruptive, but it is an important step to support public health.”

Tame Impala and Bell Biv Devoe shows at the 18,000-capacity Chase Center have been postponed. Post Malone's 3/19 concert is at least postponed and potentially canceled.

Live Nation venue The Fillmore has a capacity of just over 1,300. but shows by The Lone Bellow, SAINt JHN and others are still taking place.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is recommending the cancellation or postponement of gatherings of 250 or more people for the rest of the month.

“Not holding that concert or community event can have cascading effects — saving dozens of lives and preserving critical healthcare resources that your family may need a month from now,” he said in a statement. “The people in our lives who are most at risk — seniors and those with underlying health conditions — are depending on all of us to make the right choice.”

In sports, the Seattle Mariners have started discussions to find a new ballpark to begin their season, which is scheduled to start at home on 3/26. Major League Baseball is exploring starting the year at spring training sites in Arizona and Florida or moving to stadiums in unaffected areas, according to the Wall St. Journal.

The San Francisco Giants' first home game is 4/3 against the Dodgers.

The state of Washington has the most COVID-19 deaths in the country with at least 25.