ASHEVILLE, N.C. (FOX Carolina) – After the Buncombe County government declared a local state of emergency Thursday, Asheville City Schools says they are taking steps to minimize exposure to the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.

ACS says the district is cancelling all field trips for students, including local, in-state, out-of-state, and international trips effective Monday, March 16. All staff travel outside of the ACS district is also canceled effective March 16. These cancellations will remain in effect until further notice.

The district has also chosen to cancel rentals for inside facilities, effective Monday. As of now, organizations can still rent outside athletic facilities.

ACS notes that the North Carolina High School Athletic Association has already suspended all high school athletics statewide effective Friday, March 13th at midnight until Monday, April 6th. This included workouts, skill development, practices, and contests. ACS will follow the same protocol with middle school athletics.

So far, there are no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Buncombe County.

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