The Reg Lenna Center for The Arts, located at 116 E. Third St., has canceled Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure event that was going to start at 4 p.m. Sunday because of the state mandate prohibiting gatherings of 500 or more people because of the novel coronavirus. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

An event scheduled to be held at the Reg Lenna Center for The Arts Sunday has been canceled because of the state mandate prohibiting gatherings of 500 or more people because of the novel coronavirus.

On Friday, Len Barry, Reg Lenna marketing and communications director, told The Post-Journal more than 500 tickets had been sold to the Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure event that was going to start at 4 p.m. Sunday.

“Due to the recent New York state mandate prohibiting gatherings of 500 or more people, the March 15 performance of Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure is canceled,” Reg officials posted on their website — reglenna.com — and Facebook page. “Reg Lenna Center for The Arts is working to reschedule the show. Tickets for the March 15 event will be honored for the rescheduled performance. If any ticket holder wishes to receive a refund, they may call 484.7070 or email info@reglenna.com.”

Berry said the upcoming schedule of “Movies at the Reg,” as of Friday, will still take place. However, he said seating will be limited to under 500 to comply with the state mandate. He also said separate sections of seating in the 1,100-seat theater will be created so people attending the movies are more spread out. Upcoming scheduled movies at the Reg include “Just Mercy” Wednesday, “1917” Saturday, “The Photograph” Wednesday, March 25, and “Jumanji: The Next Level” Saturday, March 28.

As of Friday, the National Comedy Center is scheduled to remain open to visitors. Gary Hahn, National Comedy Center vice president of marketing and communications, told The Post-Journal the National Comedy Center is open to visitors during regular business hours — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.

“Our highest priority is keeping our visitors and employees healthy and safe,” he said. “We are closely following the Centers for Disease Control’s guidelines and recommendations including a strict cleaning regimen with thorough wipe downs of all hard surfaces at increased frequency throughout the day. Hand sanitizer stations are located throughout the museum for all guests and staff.”

Hahn said the international tourist attraction will continue to welcome group tours and are working closely with tour operators to ensure that everyone is complying with CDC guidelines before they enter the facility.

“We continue to monitor information coming from the CDC and World Health Organization, and will take quick and appropriate action as necessary,” he said. “We are fully committed to our guests’ and staff’s health and safety.”

National Comedy Center officials also released a statement on its website — comedycenter.org — about staying open and addressing the novel coronavirus.

“The National Comedy Center’s highest priority is keeping our visitors, employees and volunteers healthy and safe. We are closely following the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) guidelines and recommendations in order to address any concerns posed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The National Comedy Center and the Lucy Desi Museum are both open for visitors with regular business hours. While we are open for visitors as usual, we are taking additional precautions to avoid transmission of COVID-19. Our daily cleaning regimen throughout our museums includes thorough wipe downs of all hard surfaces and digital screens with increased frequency throughout the day, using alcohol-based disinfectant that is effective against coronavirus. Hand sanitizer stations are located throughout the museum for use by all guests and staff. Our staff has been instructed on the importance of continuously cleaning our facility, and staying home if they feel ill. We also ask that if you have symptoms, as with any illness, please stay home, take care of yourself and consult a physician. We continue to monitor information coming from the CDC and World Health Organization, and will take quick and appropriate action if deemed necessary. We are fully committed to your safety during your visit to the National Comedy Center and the Lucy Desi Museum.”

The Chautauqua Institution also released a statement by Michael Hill, Chautauqua Institution president, Thursday on its website — chq.org — detailing how it will address the coronavirus.

“Our energy and attention are focused on three priorities: 1. Staying in touch with officials to ensure we are up to date on current county, state and nationwide planning and knowledge; 2. Protecting our staff and community members through recommended preventative measures; and 3. Planning for all possible scenarios as we look toward our 2020 summer assembly season and beyond,” Hill stated. “We are in regular contact with the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services and have ramped up recommended prevention practices and procedures to protect the small, but vital community that calls Chautauqua home year-round and our staff. As of this writing, there have been no reports of a COVID-19 diagnosis in Chautauqua County or among our staff.”

The statement said Chautauqua Institution officials are developing multiple versions of contingency plans to cover scenarios ranging from a complete disruption to spring and summer programming, to partial disruption, to limited disruption.

“At this time, our 2020 summer assembly season schedule remains intact, as we complete final preparations, speaker and performing arts bookings, and facility preparation. As of this date, nothing associated with the 2020 season has been canceled as a result of concerns related to COVID-19,” Hill stated. “This is not to say we are ignoring the potential implications of COVID-19. Rather, it is the right response today with the current guidance and information available to us. The rate at which learning and information are changing tells us that we must start each day anew, asking ourselves what we must do now to protect our people and fulfill our mission. If the time comes when we need to make decisions about curtailing or canceling programs, I promise you we will base those decisions on what is best for the health and safety of all who make Chautauqua Institution so special, and on guidance or directives we receive from government officials. That is and will remain the core of our response to COVID-19.”