DETROIT (WWJ) -- Amid growing concerns over the COVID-19 outbreak, officials have announced the 62nd Annual Detroit St. Patrick's Parade has been canceled.
The parade's leadership team announced late Wednesday afternoon it had met with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's teams and agreed it was best to cancel this year's parade. The parade was scheduled to be held on Sunday, March 15.
Whitmer announced the first two cases of coronavirus in Michigan late Tuesday night, one in Wayne County and One in Oakland County. Whitmer addressed the media Wednesday, recommending against holding events or gatherings of more than 100 people in Michigan, as the virus spreads.
"The health and safety of our participants, spectators, local businesses and sponsors is our top priority, especially after we learned about the first cases of COVID-19 in Michigan today," parade officials said in a statement on their website. "We appreciate your dedication whether you're a brand-new participant, or one of our longtime friends, supporters, Corktown businesses, sponsors or a City of Detroit leader who helps make our parade possible every year."
The World Health Organization officially ruled to the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.
Mike Kelly, co-chair of Detroit St. Patrick's Parade, says their team "looks forward to staging another historic parade in March 2021 and our goal is to make it bigger, better and more successful than ever!"
For more information on the virus, visit www.michigan.gov/coronavirus.
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