New York Cancels St. Patrick's Day Parade for 1st Time in 258 Years

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that there would be no St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City for the first time in 258 years. The cancellation, of course, comes in response to the global coronavirus pandemic. In a statement, Cuomo said that while the risk of transmission might be lower in an outdoor gathering, health experts nevertheless urged him to call it off. "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," he explained. Meanwhile, Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the parade would eventually happen, "whether it’s in the heat of summer or on a clear fall day.”

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