SAVANNAH, Ga. — An event regularly touted as one of America's largest St. Patrick's Day celebrations has been forced to postpone amid coronavirus concerns in Georgia.
Savannah NBC station WSAV reports that the city's Transportation Leadership Council, in a letter to members, said it hadn't set new dates for its St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival.
The announcement comes just days after Mayor Van Johnson and organizers said they would continue cautiously in the face of the spreading virus - the mayor at the time suggesting people wash their hands, carry hand sanitizer and "don't kiss anyone you don't know."
The latter comment followed common issues with members of the military marching in the parade being kissed but parade-goers - something organizers had tried to curb even before coronavirus was an issue.
But as other massive St. Patrick's Day celebrations, including one in Boston and even those in Ireland itself, canceled the city faced the uncomfortable possibility that it might have to change its plans.
"This has been and continues to be a unique and interesting time in our city's history," Johnson said.
Calling recent days the hardest of his life, Johnson said he said he wrestled with the decision that he knew would make people unhappy regardless of what it was.
"We were between the proverbial rock and a real rock," he said.
He said that thankfully he didn't have to make the decision alone with several agencies and groups in agreement.
"While the risk in Savannah remains low, we want to ensure we're doing everything we can to keep those living in our city safe and healthy," Mayor Johnson said. "Savannah is OK right now and we want her to remain that way."
He said the city is still "open for business" but added that their top priority is preventing any cases or transmissions from reaching Savannah if at all possible.
Even with the massive festival and parade postponed, Johnson said that they expect many to arrive in the city anyway. He said that "businesses had upped their game" and provide a safe experience.
"We will make it through this," Johnson said. "We've been here since 1733 and we've seen a lot of interesting and strange things happen. But we will only get through it together - and being together."
As of the press conference, there had been no cases of coronavirus in Chatham County or counties directly next to it. However, Coastal Health District Director Lawton Davis said it's possible that the contagious virus could likely appear soon.
"It's really not a matter of if, it's a matter of when at this point in time," he said.
In Georgia, the risk of contracting COVID-19 remains low, according to officials. At 11Alive, we’re focusing our news coverage on the facts and not the fear around the virus. To see our full coverage, visit our coronavirus section, here: www.11Alive.com/Coronavirus.
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