ALHAMBRA (CNS) - The city of Alhambra is canceling its Lunar New Year celebration, one of the biggest events of the year for the Chinese community, amid fears about coronavirus, according to a media report.
The decision to nix the event will affect thousands of celebrants and more than 200 vendors, Felix Guo, senior VP with Multicultural Radio Broadcasting Inc., told ABC7.
The radio station partners with the Alhambra Chamber of Commerce to host the annual gala.
Guo, who is also a radio host, says there is constant talk about coronavirus on. “On Chinese social media, there's nothing else but the talk of the coronavirus. Some are fake news. But they successfully created some kind of level of panic and fear,” Guo told the TV station.
Guo said the vendors were on board with the decision. “They told us that this is the right thing to do.”
Organizers said the were willing to reschedule the event possibly to May or June, according to the station.
However, a similar parade in downtown Los Angeles, sponsored by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce Los Angeles, is expected to go off as planned, beginning at 1 p.m. at Hill and Temple streets.
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