A new date has not been set for the luncheon — the largest daytime event held at the president’s private club each year, with ticket prices at last year’s event ranging from $500 and $1,000.

After insisting as late as Thursday night that its 700-plus guest fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago would still go on despite calls by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to limit gatherings of more than 250 people, Big Dog Ranch Rescue announced today that it had postponed its annual Wine, Women & Shoes fundraiser on Saturday.

Lauree Simmons, founder of the Loxahatchee Groves dog rescue group, cited Friday’s news of the first two confirmed cases of coronavirus in Palm Beach County and DeSantis’ recommendation as reasons to postpone the event. A new date has not been set for the luncheon — the largest daytime event held at the president’s private club each year, with ticket prices at last year’s event ranging from $500 and $1,000.

"The well being of our incredible supporters, vendors and staff is paramount with the new information prompting us to reschedule," Simmons said in her statement.

Lara Trump, an animal rights advocate who is married to President Donald Trump’s son Eric, was expected to headline the luncheon and fashion show, as she has in prior years.

Despite widespread efforts by public health officials to promote "social distancing" — a mitigation strategy used to slow the spread of the illness through reduced close contact — the group had declined to cancel the event.

"The Maralago Club meticulously follows all CDC recommendations including cleaning and sterilization of guest areas," event planner Chase Scott wrote in an email to The Palm Beach Post on Thursday.

In addition to hand sanitizer stations and "as an additional precautionary measure, upon check-in guests will be encouraged to refrain from shaking hands, hugging or kissing," Scott added.

Two cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Palm Beach County, the Florida Department of Health announced late Thursday. They mark the first local cases announced by state officials since the deadly outbreak spread.

In addition, a passenger on a JetBlue flight arriving from New York at Palm Beach International Airport was infected with the respiratory illness, according to airport officials. A Pennsylvania man who attended a conference at the Palm Beach County convention center has also tested positive.

The president is not scheduled to be at Mar-a-Lago this weekend and showed little interest in social-distancing during his visit last weekend. Trump hosted over 1,000 supporters at two fundraisers at Mar-a-Lago on March 6 and March 8, shaking hands with VIP donors in Mar-a-Lago’s smaller, gilded ballroom.

And Trump declined to be tested after learning that a Brazilian official who dined and was photographed with Trump and Vice President Pence at Mar-a-Lago last weekend is infected with the coronavirus.

Trump said Thursday he was "not concerned" about their interaction. However, Florida GOP U.S. Sen. Rick Scott announced on Thursday that he was going to self-quarantine because he met with the Brazilian officials in Miami on Monday.

"While I do not believe I interacted with the infected person, that individual was in the same room as me," Scott said.

In response to public health officials promoting social distancing, events across the country are being canceled. The NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments have been canceled. Broadway is going dark and both Disney World in Central Florida and Disneyland in California are closing its doors.

In Palm Beach County, the prestigious International Red Cross Ball canceled the social season’s only white-tie gala, scheduled for March 20 at The Breakers. The Palm Beach International Boat Show, Palm Beach Book Festival and Palm Beach Pride celebration have also been canceled. Spring training games in West Palm Beach and Jupiter have been suspended.

First Lady Melania Trump also has not shied away from crowds. She made no mention of the virus on Wednesday she spoke at the National PTA Legislative Conference in Alexandria, Virginia, according to The Washington Post. The virus also did not come up during her recent speeches at the Justice Department’s National Opioid Summit on Friday and the International Women of Courage Awards Ceremony at the State Department, according to The Post.

Trump said on Tuesday he hadn't been tested for the virus on the recommendation of the White House physician.

"I feel extremely good, I feel very good. But I guess it's not a big deal to get tested, and it's something I would do. But, again, I spoke to the White House doctor — terrific guy, talented guy — he said he sees no reason to do it, there's no symptoms, no anything," he said at the time.

Cstapleton@pbpost.com

@StapletonPB