Governor Cuomo announced late last night that NYC’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade (set for Tuesday 3/17) will be postponed to a later date, after discussing it in depth with the Parade and Celebration Committee.
The parade brings about 250,000 marchers and 1 to 2 million spectators to Manhattan, and with fears growing over the spread of COVID-19 with so many people contained in one space (who may have been exposed to the virus), they decided it wasn’t worth the risk.
“While I know the parade organizers did not make this decision lightly, public health experts agree that one of the most effective ways to contain the spread of the virus is to limit large gatherings and close contacts, and I applaud the parade’s leadership for working cooperatively with us,” Governor Cuomo said. “While the risk to New Yorkers remains low and we want to avoid social and economic disruptions, we have an obligation to take action to contain the spread of this virus.”
You can read his full statement here.
Mayor De Blasio Tweeted:
“I know this decision didn’t come easy, so I’ll make this promise: this is a postponement, not a cancellation. Whether it’s in the heat of summer or on a clear fall day, New Yorkers will come together to celebrate St. Patrick’s day and our city’s great Irish-American community.”
Apparently, this is the first time the parade has been postponed/canceled in its 258-year history.
featured image source: Instagram / @nycstpatricksdayparade