Ireland cancels all St. Patrick's Day parades due to coronavirus

Ireland's government has canceled all of the country's St. Patrick's Day parades due to the novel coronavirus.The decision for the March 17 events came from a Cabinet subcommittee meeting, The Irish Times reported.Prime Minister Leo Varadkar announced the cancellation and said “further advice about mass public gatherings will be issued in the next few days.”Boston mayor announces parade cancellation Meanwhile, the 2020 St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Boston scheduled for Sunday also has been canceled amid the coronavirus outbreak. In a statement, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh said the decision was being made "out of an abundance of caution to ensure that we are doing what is needed to keep the residents of Boston safe and healthy."The mayor said while the risk in Boston remains low, the situation is changing very quickly. "Our top priority is preventing any new cases, to the best of our ability, and we are paying close attention to guidance from public health officials," the mayor said in the statement.Irish government officials worried about inducing panicThe Irish Times previously reported that government officials in Ireland were worried about the possibility of "widespread closures and cancellations" fueling "public panic."For most people, the flu-like viral illness causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.Fear over the new coronavirus epidemic sent global stock markets plunging Monday and caused a cascading shutdown of sites and events ranging from Saudi schools to a Holocaust march.Video: 7 St. Patrick's Day traditions explainedWhile many of Beijing's white-collar workers returned to work as new infections subsided in China, some 16 million people under a widespread lockdown in northern Italy struggled to navigate the new rules of their mass isolation.

Ireland's government has canceled all of the country's St. Patrick's Day parades due to the novel coronavirus.

The decision for the March 17 events came from a Cabinet subcommittee meeting, .

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar announced the cancellation and said “further advice about mass public gatherings will be issued in the next few days.”

Boston mayor announces parade cancellation

Meanwhile, the 2020 St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Boston scheduled for Sunday also has been canceled amid the coronavirus outbreak. In a statement, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh said the decision was being made "out of an abundance of caution to ensure that we are doing what is needed to keep the residents of Boston safe and healthy."

The mayor said while the risk in Boston remains low, the situation is changing very quickly. "Our top priority is preventing any new cases, to the best of our ability, and we are paying close attention to guidance from public health officials," the mayor said in the statement.

Irish government officials worried about inducing panic

The Irish Times that government officials in Ireland were worried about the possibility of "widespread closures and cancellations" fueling "public panic."

For most people, the flu-like viral illness causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.

Fear over the new coronavirus epidemic sent global stock markets plunging Monday and caused a cascading shutdown of sites and events ranging from Saudi schools to a Holocaust march.

Video: 7 St. Patrick's Day traditions explained

While many of Beijing's white-collar workers returned to work as new infections subsided in China, some 16 million people under a widespread lockdown in northern Italy struggled to navigate the new rules of their mass isolation.

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