White Plains, Yonkers Cancel St. Patrick's Day Parades

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — With the number of new coronavirus cases in Westchester County increasing, there are concerns over whether to continue or cancel St. Patrick's Day parades and festivities. White Plains and Yonkers have decided to do the latter.

In a posting on White Plains' city website, officials said the parade scheduled for Saturday will not go forward.

The White Plains St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee will be meeting in the days ahead to discuss a future celebration.

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"The decision was not reached easily and came after discussions with medical experts, state, county and public safety officials," the post said.

Organizers said that cancellation was the prudent course, because "our main focus is and must be the health, welfare and safety of our residents, parade participants and attendees."

In Yonkers, the parade was scheduled for March 21. It, too, was canceled, but rescheduled for Sept. 19, according to the parade's website.

"It is with an abundance of caution and care for our community, and as a result of medical advice in the midst of this health crisis, that we have made the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 Yonkers St. Patrick's Day Parade," organizers said.

The parade dinner will be held Sept. 12.

Sleepy Hollow announced Wednesday afternoon that its parade set for Sunday, March 15 has been postponed until Sept. 20.

Village officials said it was a joint decision of the parade committee, Village of Sleepy Hollow and the Village of Tarrytown as a precautionary measure due to the new coronavirus outbreak as recommended by the Westchester County Department of Health.

The cancellations come in the wake of the announcement that the state will impose a 1-mile radius containment area in New Rochelle to help hinder the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Young Israel of New Rochelle synagogue was used as the center point of the zone, because a congregant of the house of worship — a 50-year-old New Rochelle man — was the second person in the state to test positive for the virus.

The majority of positive cases in the state are connected to the man, his family and others in the immediate area.

Coronavirus in New York

• Coronavirus: 1-Mile Containment Area In New Rochelle
• Coronavirus: 3 New Rochelle Schools Within Containment Area
• 13 Dutchess County Residents Possibly Exposed To Coronavirus
• New Rochelle Grappling With New Coronavirus Containment Zone
• Expert Offers Common-Sense Reasons Not To Panic Over Coronavirus
• Coronavirus Update In United States: Tuesday, March 10
• First Suffolk Coronavirus Patient In 'Fair Condition, Improving'

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been modified to add information about the Sleepy Hollow St. Patrick's Day parade postponement.

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