As the coronavirus continues to spread across Southern California, companies and city officials are beginning to cancel and reschedule major events in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.
According to a story in Billboard, the organizers behind the Coachella Art and Music Festival are working to rescheduled the festival for late October amid concerns over the coronavirus outbreak. Nothing is set in stone, but the event's organizers are negotiating with the musical acts who are scheduled to appear and if enough of them agree, the event could be postponed.
The city of Duarte announced it would be canceling its 16th annual Cesar Chavez Community Project Day event, scheduled for March 28.
“Due to the recent concerns surrounding COVID-19, the corporate offices of Westminster Gardens have decided to place a hold on events taking place within its senior living communities, as the health, security and safety of their residents is their highest priority,” city officials said. “As a result, this has led to the decision to cancel the City's annual Cesar Chavez community event.”
Additionally, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced on Monday that they'd canceled plans for its 2020 Team USA Media Summit in downtown Los Angeles over concerns about the virus.
“Out of an abundance of caution, and in an effort to limit any potential exposure to the coronavirus, COVID-19, by Team USA athletes, members of the media, staff and volunteers, we have made the decision to postpone the 2020 Team USA Media Summit,” Luella Chavez D'Angelo, USOPC chief communications and marketing officer, said in a statement. “We are already at work exploring ways to recreate, or find new, opportunities for athletes and media -- be they in-person or remote. We thank all who had planned to attend for their interest, support and understanding.”
The media summit had been scheduled for next week at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown Hotel where more than 115 "Team USA" hopefuls for the Olympic and Paraolympic Games in Tokyo were expected to participate.
The 29th annual Media Awards scheduled for April 6 was also postponed, though a venue had not yet been determined.
“There is no higher priority for us than the health, safety and physical well-being of our community and guests, so we have made the decision to postpone our 29th annual Media Awards until further notice,” Sue Obeidi, MPAC Hollywood Bureau director, wrote in a cancellation message. “The entertainment industry has rapidly responded to the CDC's warning with a number of concerts, festivals, film and TV shoots and other events being canceled or rescheduled. These decisions are not a cause for alarm or panic, but are made in an abundance of caution to help prevent the spread of the virus, particularly at large gatherings.”
On Monday, organizers of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden canceled the upcoming tournament amid coronavirus concerns.
A statement issued by organizers quoted USC professor of Medicine and Bioengineering Dr. David Agus.
“There is too great a risk at this this time to the public health of the Riverside County area in holding a large gathering of this size,” Argus said.
“It is not in the public interest of fans, players and neighboring areas for this tournament to proceed. We all have to join together to protect the community from the coronavirus outbreak,” he said.
California has confirmed at least 143 cases, with at least 19 in the Los Angeles area. Two people have died in California from the novel coronavirus. Nationwide, nearly 800 cases have been confirmed with the death toll rising to 28 by Tuesday morning.
Photo: Getty Images