Burning Man organizers release statement on status of event

FILE - Burning Man participants walk through dust at the annual Burning Man event on the Black Rock Desert of Gerlach, Nev., on Friday, Aug. 29, 2014. Organizers are still debating whether to cancel the gathering which happens in late August. less FILE - Burning Man participants walk through dust at the annual Burning Man event on the Black Rock Desert of Gerlach, Nev., on Friday, Aug. 29, 2014. Organizers are still debating whether to cancel the ... more Photo: Andy Barron / Associated Press Photo: Andy Barron / Associated Press Image 1 of / 127 Caption Close Burning Man organizers release statement on status of event 1 / 127 Back to Gallery

The Burning Man Festival that unfolds in Nevada's Black Rock Desert every year is scheduled for Aug. 30 - Sept. 7, but as COVID-19 spreads around the globe and takes hold in the United States, many are wondering whether this year's festival will be a go.

Burning Man organizers released a statement this week about the event's status; the gist of it is that they feel it's too early to make a call on whether to cancel or not.

"In the current climate of uncertainty it is simply too soon to tell," reads the statement. "There are some indications that the virus may peak in the next couple of months and then begin to subside, while others believe the pandemic could have a much longer timeline. Some large-scale events are being rescheduled from spring until fall. Black Rock City is still five months away, and a lot can happen between now and then. So much is beyond our powers to predict or control."

The group is still holding its Theme Camp Symposium on March 28 to start planning for this year's festival, but it's being held in a virtual format.

Other events, such as the Burnal Equinox scheduled for March 14 in San Francisco, were cancelled.

The nonprofit group Burners without Borders in the meantime launched an effort to collect and donate much-need health care equipment.

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.