Mayor Bill de Blasio at his press briefing today
April 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that he is cancelling all nonessential events next month — including parades, street fairs, rallies and concerts — amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The mayor said that June events are also unlikely to take place, adding that he can’t envision thousands of people gathering in one place at that time too.
De Blasio said the parades, concerts and fairs are a big part of what makes New York New York, but that they aren’t safe to hold during the pandemic.
“We love those events, but what do we know about those events?” de Blasio said. “It inherently means large numbers of people crowded together in a pretty small space — that’s New York, that’s who we are — but guess what? That goes against everything that we need to do to fight the coronavirus.”
Events now cancelled for May include the Brooklyn Half Marathon.
De Blasio said he is talk with some of the organizers of June events to discuss rescheduling.
He was not hopeful that events would take place then too. “I don’t see it.”
The pride parade, draws thousands of people each year and will be celebrating its 50th anniversary, is scheduled for June 28.
The mayor said he will make an official announcement soon as to whether June events will be canceled.
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