Organizers of the 2020 Boston Marathon will postpone this year's race amid concerns about COVID-19, sources tell 5 Investigates. The 124th running of the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon was set for April 20, Patriots' Day. Organizers are now looking to reschedule the event for September, although an exact date has not been determined, sources tell 5 Investigates. Legislators are talking about creating a special holiday in the fall in order to have the marathon be held on a holiday, WCVB has learned. The bill would be subject to the same approval process as other bills. A formal announcement is expected in the next day or two.The Boston Athletic Association had said it was working closely with state and local officials and would adhere to policies put forth by the Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. The race has only been fully canceled or postponed once -- in 1918, when a military relay race was held during World War I.The race generally draws more than 30,000 runners from all over the world, ranging from decorated professionals and Olympians to amateur runners who take to the storied 26.2-mile course through eight communities to raise money and awareness for charities.Other marathons and road races had already been canceled, including the New Bedford Half Marathon. The majority of COVID-19 illnesses reported in Massachusetts so far are related to a conference held in late February at a Boston hotel. Several other states have also reported cases related to that conference.The risk of COVID-19 to the general public in Massachusetts remains low at this time, according to state health officials.More information from the DPH on COVID-19 can be found by clicking this link.PHNjcmlwdCBpZD0iaW5mb2dyYW1fMF85MTUyMTg3My03NmRhLTQ0ZmUtOTA0Ny1mMTllZWFlZGFjNmQiIHRpdGxlPSJDb3JvbmF2aXJ1cyBpbiBNYXNzYWNodXNldHRzIiBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vZS5pbmZvZ3JhbS5jb20vanMvZGlzdC9lbWJlZC5qcz9yeXoiIHR5cGU9InRleHQvamF2YXNjcmlwdCI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+.

Organizers of the 2020 Boston Marathon will postpone this year's race amid concerns about COVID-19, sources tell 5 Investigates.

The 124th running of the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon was set for April 20, Patriots' Day. Organizers are now looking to reschedule the event for September, although an exact date has not been determined, sources tell 5 Investigates.




Legislators are talking about creating a special holiday in the fall in order to have the marathon be held on a holiday, WCVB has learned. The bill would be subject to the same approval process as other bills.

A formal announcement is expected in the next day or two.

The Boston Athletic Association had said it was working closely with state and local officials and would adhere to policies put forth by the Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.

The race has only been fully canceled or postponed once -- in 1918, when a military relay race was held during World War I.

The race generally draws more than 30,000 runners from all over the world, ranging from decorated professionals and Olympians to amateur runners who take to the storied 26.2-mile course through eight communities to raise money and awareness for charities.

Other marathons and road races had already been canceled, including the New Bedford Half Marathon.

The majority of COVID-19 illnesses reported in Massachusetts so far are related to a conference held in late February at a Boston hotel. Several other states have also reported cases related to that conference.

The risk of COVID-19 to the general public in Massachusetts remains low at this time, according to state health officials.



More information from the DPH on COVID-19 can be found by clicking this link.

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