NORFOLK, Va. — In what the city said was "not an easy decision," Norfolk decided Thursday to pull the permit for its 53rd annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.
The decision came after Gov. Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency in Virginia related to 17 presumptive positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19).
With only two days between the cancellation and the scheduled parade, the city is asking people who have put up tents in preparation for the event to take them down.
The parade has been an area tradition since 1967. In 2016, organization was handed over to Norfolk Parade, according to its website. The event has been cancelled before, on days of heavy rain.