The St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Denver, CO has been canceled due to coronavirus. There have been 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Colorado since the first case was confirmed last Thursday with several people under quarantine and several other test results pending. Many confirmed patients have visited ski resorts in the state, such as Aspen, Vail, and Keystone. Gov. Jared Polis declared a State of Emergency for Colorado on Tuesday morning.
Theresa Melaragno, President of the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and Mayor Michael B. Hancock issued the following statement regarding the 2020 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Denver:
“Following discussions with public health officials at the city and at the urging of the Mayor during consultation yesterday and this morning, the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee has made the tough decision to cancel this year’s parade due to the on-going situation surrounding COVID-19. The health and safety of parade participants and attendees is our highest priority every year, and the call to cancel the 2020 parade was made out of an abundance of caution to ensure that we are doing our part to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 to those who join us every year to celebrate this annual tradition. We thank the parade sponsors, participants and hundreds of volunteers who put in countless hours of their time to celebrate our city and our Irish heritage. Sláinte.
“The city continues to closely monitor and coordinate efforts currently underway to respond to and prepare for cases of COVID-19. Our highest priority during this response is to both protect and prepare our residents for any potential risk to public health and safety as these situations continue to evolve. We urge residents to follow the advice of local health authorities, including any restrictions put in place on travel, movement and gatherings, as well as advice on regular and thorough hand-washing, good respiratory hygiene, and staying home if you have flu-like symptoms.”
There have been 1,039 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the USA, resulting in 28 deaths. Italy is in ‘lockdown’ and has closed all major ski areas in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus.
