The mayor of New Orleans says there are no plans to cancel upcoming public events in the city at this time, despite the first likely case of COVID-19 in Louisiana.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell spoke yesterday saying the planned St. Patrick's Day events for this weekend would go on as scheduled, including the parade.
Spokesmen for the St. Patrick's and St. Joseph's processions announced yesterday that the strolls would go on, but spectators will have to settle for smiles rather than smooches from the marchers amid concerns of the coronavirus.
The St. Patrick's Parade is schedule for March 13 and the St. Joseph's Parade will roll through the French Quarter on March 14.
Several other cities across the country like New Orleans that rely heavily on tourism have canceled significant events, including Austin who shut down its annual South-By-Southwest festival.
City health leaders urged residents who feel ill or are in a high-risk category to stay home from public events until the outbreak is dealt with thoroughly.
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