Diocesan leaders also asked people who are ill to refrain from attending Mass and have urged prayers for the recovery of those afflicted by the illness and for their family members and other caretakers.
As of March 11, dozens of Catholic college and university leaders had announced plans to cancel public classes and offer online education amid concern over the coronavirus' spread.
Pope Francis asked people to pray for government officials and leaders who are tasked with making critical decisions and taking drastic measures that may make people unhappy.