CHICAGO, IL — A day after organizers said the Chicago's St. Patrick's Day parade was still on, they reversed their decision, postponing Saturday's parade amid coronavirus fears. The announcement comes after Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday said health officials were having conversations with organizers of large events, including the St. Patrick's Day Parade and the South Side Irish Parade.

"The health and safety of Chicago's residents will always be our highest priority, and like many other cities across the nation and globe, we are postponing this year's parades as a precautionary measure to prevent any additional spread of COVID-19," said Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

No make up date was given. The mayor said city officials would work with organizers to find an appropriate date "sometime in the future."

Don't miss updates about precautions in the Chicago area as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters. On Tuesday, Prtizker announced eight additional coronavirus cases in Illinois, including two cases outside of Cook County. The governor also issued a disaster proclamation earlier this week as the disease has spread.

Pritzker and Lightfoot announced the postponement at a Wednesday morning press conference. Both leaders called it a difficult decision. The parade website was updated to reflect the postponement, directing visitors to the Chicago Department of Public Health website.

The South Side Irish Parade, set for Sunday, has also been postponed.