Coronavirus Concerns Cancel Somerville Saint Patrick’s Parade

SOMERVILLE, NJ — The Somerville Saint Patrick’s Parade has been canceled for Sunday due to new coronavirus concerns. As of Thursday there have been no confirmed cases in Somerset County.

The parade committee made the announcement on Thursday morning.

"We are in serious times. The Somerville Saint Patrick’s Parade Committee will be cancelling this year’s Parade for the sake of public health and public health resources in our area and after the guidance of our national, state and local public health officials," the committee stated on its website.

The committee noted they will be back and to look for updates.

"Please note, we are not prepared, at this very time, to offer a re-scheduled date because of the complexity of such an event," the committee stated.

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The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade on record in Somerville was held in 1984. It began at Duke Island Park and traveled to downtown Somerville.

For more information on the parade visit somervillesaintpatricksparade.com or facebook.com/SomervilleParade.

Developments in the new coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak continue to unfold rapidly in New Jersey now that the number of cases has risen to 23, and one person has died.

• See Related: Coronavirus May Be 'Community-Spread' In NJ
• Related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

WHAT IS COVID-19?

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, also called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way to prevent the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a health care professional recommends it. A face mask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected. The use of face masks also is crucial for health workers and other people who are taking care of someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

Residents who have questions about the virus can contact the State of New Jersey's hotline at 800-222-1222. The hotline is home of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System, and is staffed 24 hours a day by state health workers.

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