SATURDAY’S ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE IN HERMOSA BEACH IS CANCELLED IN RESPONSE TO GOVERNOR’S AND PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS’ RECOMMENDATIONS TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS

City of Hermosa Beach and Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce

Announce Decision Made “Out of an Abundance of Caution”

HERMOSA BEACH, CA – The City of Hermosa Beach and Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau today announced that they are cancelling Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in response to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s and public health experts’ recommendations to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) by cancelling large public gatherings.

Gov. Newsom announced Wednesday night that the state’s public health experts have determined that gatherings should be postponed or cancelled across the state until at least the end of March. He said that non-essential gatherings must be limited to no more than 250 people. The Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce has hosted the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade for 25 years, drawing large crowds of spectators and participants to the beach city’s downtown.

The City and Chamber issued the following statement, after closely following Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s updates and meeting with the Beach Cities Health District and other local officials today to discuss the South Bay’s response to the coronavirus outbreak:

“Out of an abundance of caution, we are announcing the cancellation of the 26th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade scheduled to take place Saturday in downtown Hermosa Beach. With the governor and public health experts recommending the cancellation of large public gatherings and at least two cases within the County involving community spread, cancelling this large-scale event is a prudent and responsible action to help reduce the risk of the virus spread.”

“As you know, many other organizations have cancelled or delayed large public events to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, including most of the country’s large St. Patrick’s Day parades. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and other public health experts have said that those who are pregnant, elderly or have underlying health issues are especially vulnerable to developing serious effects from the virus. As a community, we have a collective responsibility to work together to avoid spreading this disease, and the decision to cancel the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is based solely on the need to protect public health.

“We know the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a time-honored community tradition that many look forward to each year, and we thank our residents for their patience and understanding. We regret any inconvenience this cancellation may cause for the parade’s sponsors, participants and loyal attendees.”

The City of Hermosa Beach is conferring with the sponsors of other large events that are planned over the next month and anticipates further cancellations or postponements. The City is closely monitoring updates and sharing information about the coronavirus that is provided by trusted resources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The City is providing the latest information about coronavirus and links to resources on its website.

About Hermosa Beach

Founded in 1907, Hermosa Beach is a thriving community of some 20,000 residents. Located on the southern end of the Santa Monica Bay in Los Angeles County, with beaches ranked among the best in the world, Hermosa Beach has been recognized for its work to highlight Southern California beach culture, foster a vibrant local economy and protect coastal and environmental resources.

To learn more about Hermosa Beach, please visit the City website.

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About the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau

The Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau has been in continuous operation since 1912 and serves over 350 members. The Chamber’s mission is to promote, educate and organize the businesses that serve Hermosa Beach’s residents and visitors.

To learn more about the Chamber, please visit its website.

Or keep up with the Chamber’s news and events on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.