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St. Patrick’s Day Parade Is Postponed in New York Over Coronavirus Concerns St. Patrick’s Day Parade Is Postponed in New York Over Coronavirus Concerns
(1 day later)
New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the largest such celebration in the world, was postponed late Wednesday over concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, the first time in more than 250 years that the event will not go on as planned.New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the largest such celebration in the world, was postponed late Wednesday over concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, the first time in more than 250 years that the event will not go on as planned.
The announcement, made in a statement by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and parade organizers, followed the cancellation of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Chicago and Boston. Ireland on Monday canceled all parades nationwide.The announcement, made in a statement by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and parade organizers, followed the cancellation of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Chicago and Boston. Ireland on Monday canceled all parades nationwide.
“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,” Mr. Cuomo said. “And I applaud the parade’s leadership for working cooperatively with us.”“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,” Mr. Cuomo said. “And I applaud the parade’s leadership for working cooperatively with us.”
Sean Lane, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Celebration Committee’s chairman, said the group looked forward “to celebrating the 259th St. Patrick’s Day Parade with the entire City of New York at a later date.”Sean Lane, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Celebration Committee’s chairman, said the group looked forward “to celebrating the 259th St. Patrick’s Day Parade with the entire City of New York at a later date.”
The parade, traditionally held on March 17, draws an estimated 150,000 marchers and two million spectators a year to Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, including many police and military groups, firefighters, Irish musicians and student groups from across the United States. It is one of the city’s largest recurring public events.The parade, traditionally held on March 17, draws an estimated 150,000 marchers and two million spectators a year to Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, including many police and military groups, firefighters, Irish musicians and student groups from across the United States. It is one of the city’s largest recurring public events.
The celebration was first held on March 17, 1762, 14 years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and over the decades it has transformed into a freewheeling festival of Irish heritage that draws revelers of every race and ethnicity.The celebration was first held on March 17, 1762, 14 years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and over the decades it has transformed into a freewheeling festival of Irish heritage that draws revelers of every race and ethnicity.
That history weighed heavily on parade organizers and other Irish-American leaders, who agonized over breaking with more than two centuries of tradition even as celebrations in other cities were scrapped.That history weighed heavily on parade organizers and other Irish-American leaders, who agonized over breaking with more than two centuries of tradition even as celebrations in other cities were scrapped.
On Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the parade would go on as planned. But on Wednesday, he said his thinking on the subject had changed because of the “ancillary realities” surrounding the parade, such as the large number of people who would use public transport to get there.On Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the parade would go on as planned. But on Wednesday, he said his thinking on the subject had changed because of the “ancillary realities” surrounding the parade, such as the large number of people who would use public transport to get there.
“People crowded on the subway to get to the parade or on Metro-North for example, people going to a bar afterward,” Mr. de Blasio said. “That’s what we are assessing right now.”“People crowded on the subway to get to the parade or on Metro-North for example, people going to a bar afterward,” Mr. de Blasio said. “That’s what we are assessing right now.”
Neil Cosgrove, an official with the Ancient Order of Hibernians, an Irish diaspora group, who was not involved in discussions over the parade, said that the organizers had been looking to the city for guidance.Neil Cosgrove, an official with the Ancient Order of Hibernians, an Irish diaspora group, who was not involved in discussions over the parade, said that the organizers had been looking to the city for guidance.
“My understanding is there is a bit of a tango going on between the parade committee and the city,” said Mr. Cosgrove on Wednesday before the cancellation was announced. “I think the city doesn’t want to pull the trigger, they want the parade committee to pull the trigger.”“My understanding is there is a bit of a tango going on between the parade committee and the city,” said Mr. Cosgrove on Wednesday before the cancellation was announced. “I think the city doesn’t want to pull the trigger, they want the parade committee to pull the trigger.”
On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he had spoken to Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, whose “strong recommendation” was to “reduce large gatherings” like the parade.On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he had spoken to Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, whose “strong recommendation” was to “reduce large gatherings” like the parade.
“Why would you risk bringing thousands of people together knowing this is a virus that is easily communicable?” Mr. Cuomo said at a news conference. “St. Patrick’s Day is one of the great convenings of a large number of people.”“Why would you risk bringing thousands of people together knowing this is a virus that is easily communicable?” Mr. Cuomo said at a news conference. “St. Patrick’s Day is one of the great convenings of a large number of people.”
Updated August 4, 2020 Updated August 6, 2020
“If you listen to the experts, they are saying you should not have a St. Patrick’s Day convening at this time, which I believe makes sense,” the governor said.“If you listen to the experts, they are saying you should not have a St. Patrick’s Day convening at this time, which I believe makes sense,” the governor said.
St. Patrick is the patron saint of both Ireland and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, the second-largest diocese in the United States, which has traditionally played a role in the parade. Each year, the parade is reviewed by Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York from the steps of St. Patrick’s Cathedral as it marches past.St. Patrick is the patron saint of both Ireland and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, the second-largest diocese in the United States, which has traditionally played a role in the parade. Each year, the parade is reviewed by Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York from the steps of St. Patrick’s Cathedral as it marches past.
“St. Patrick’s Day is more than just going out and having a celebration,” Mr. Cosgrove said. “For a lot of families this is right behind thanksgiving and Christmas as a family event, and for a lot of business owners who are struggling this getting canceled has a big knock on impact.”“St. Patrick’s Day is more than just going out and having a celebration,” Mr. Cosgrove said. “For a lot of families this is right behind thanksgiving and Christmas as a family event, and for a lot of business owners who are struggling this getting canceled has a big knock on impact.”
Organizers and co-sponsors of the parade, which is led each year by the New York Army National Guard’s First Battalion 69th Infantry, said as recently as midweek that the parade would go ahead as planned.Organizers and co-sponsors of the parade, which is led each year by the New York Army National Guard’s First Battalion 69th Infantry, said as recently as midweek that the parade would go ahead as planned.
But that likelihood grew increasingly remote as New York emerged as an epicenter of coronavirus infection in the United States, with most of its infections centered in Westchester County, north of New York City.But that likelihood grew increasingly remote as New York emerged as an epicenter of coronavirus infection in the United States, with most of its infections centered in Westchester County, north of New York City.
Mr. Cuomo declared a state of emergency in the state on Saturday and deployed the National Guard three days later to a “containment area” in New Rochelle, in Westchester County.Mr. Cuomo declared a state of emergency in the state on Saturday and deployed the National Guard three days later to a “containment area” in New Rochelle, in Westchester County.
That area, with a one-mile radius, was designed to limit public gatherings by forcing schools and other buildings to close. It also focused the state’s resources on the area around a synagogue that has been at the center of the state’s largest cluster of cases.That area, with a one-mile radius, was designed to limit public gatherings by forcing schools and other buildings to close. It also focused the state’s resources on the area around a synagogue that has been at the center of the state’s largest cluster of cases.