As mayors across the country address the realities of hosting large events amid the coronavirus pandemic, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer Thursday night that she sees it as unlikely that New Orleans will have major festivals in 2020.

Cantrell's comments to Blitzer mirrored those she had made earlier in the week.

Jazz Fest and Essence Fest have since canceled their 2020 events.

Cantrell's interview with Blitzer on his show, The Situation Room, was the first glimpse into her thoughts on how the 2020 Saints' football season should play out -- with no fans present.

Below is Blitzer's full interview with Cantrell on New Orleans' restrictions, coronavirus and how it could shape the rest of the year.

Wolf Blitzer: Thank you so much for joining us. First of all, do you agree with the mayors of New York and Los Angeles that major sporting events and big concerts this year are probably unlikely? It's going to have to wait until next year?

Mayor LaToya Cantrell: Listen, I do agree with my brother mayors, especially a world-class city that hosts these large events second to none. But you know what? We have to brace ourselves, and I do not see it. It's not the date we have to look at. We have to look at the data. Based on that, I just don't see us being able to host (events)... for the year of 2020. Let's look at 2021.

WB: That's a huge part of New Orleans: tourism. A lot of folks love to come to your hotels, your restaurants and see what's going on. They want to go to the French Quarter. None of that is presumably going to happen for the time being, right?

LC: With the large-scale events and the festivals that we just mentioned, I don't see them happening. Let me tell you, 30% of our workforce in the city is tied to our hospitality and tourism industry. The city of New Orleans is the backbone of the industry, and it's a city that has been hit very hard as it relates to the population of people. As we've been focusing on the health disparities of this virus, it has really impacted (African Americans). So I just don't see how we can lift up festivals in 2020.

WB: NFL football? What about that?

LC: I know that the NFL is working very hard to determine methods of re-engagement, like no fans present. I think that is the best way to go, but I know they're working very hard as it relates to not only the players but the staff that is required to even host a sporting event.

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WB: You've closed public schools through the end of this year, right?

LC: Yes sir. Schools are definitely going to be out. They're still doing remote instruction. However, they will not go back to onsite instruction. It's the best thing to do. We see that our curve is flattening, but it's based upon the efforts that we have put in place over the past four weeks. This is not the time to step back. It's the time to double down so that when we come back, we can come back stronger and not just regress. The city of New Orleans right now is looking at a $150 million deficit with about $126 million tied to sales tax, which is absolutely because of our industry, but as it relates to the CARES Act, there are no dollars for losses of revenue -- only for expenses. I don't see how a city will be able to operate in terms of basic city services, let alone host large-scale festivals.

WB: It's going to be a real problem, and I hear that from every mayor of every major city around the country right now. Money is simply not there. Mayor LaToya Cantrell, good luck to everyone in New Orleans, and thanks so much for joining us.

Watch the interview here.