By Kevin Coughlin -

Saint Patrick may have driven the serpents from Ireland. But he’s no match for the coronavirus.

Reversing his stance from Tuesday–when he endorsed this weekend’s Morris County St. Patrick’s Parade but urged anyone over 60 to stay home–Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty announced Wednesday he has canceled the parade amid concerns about the virus, which the World Health Organization just classified as a pandemic.

“I think clearly we’ve made the right decision for the health of our community,” said the mayor, who issued a statement with the Irish American groups that were organizing Saturday’s march.

“It’s disappointing. But at the end of the day, it’s the right decision for everyone,” parade Chairman Artie Flinn of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick told Morristown Green. “We understand this is bigger than a parade. We want to be part of the solution, not contribute to the spread” of anxiety.

Dougherty also expressed hope that local entertainment venues “will comply with our request to postpone large public gatherings till after the public health crisis is over.”

Parade day draws huge crowds to Morristown’s bars. Dougherty urged tavern operators and patrons to follow federal recommendations for hygiene, to curb the spread of the virus that has claimed more than 4,000 lives worldwide.

“Just because you’re 25 doesn’t mean you can’t get the coronavirus, and bring it home to your parents, grandparents and neighbors,” said Dougherty, 61. He told Tuesday’s council meeting he would skip the parade because of his diabetes and a prior heart attack.

The March 14, 2020, parade may be resurrected in September as a “Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day” parade, Dougherty noted. He said the closure decision followed days of consultations with parade organizers, local officials, and health professionals from Morris County and Morristown Medical Center.

Although no cases of the virus have been reported in Morris County, at least 23 have been confirmed across the state. A 69-year-old Bergen County man died on Tuesday from COVID-19, the coronavirus disease.

Citing a letter from Morris County Health Officer Carlos Perez Jr. advising against the parade, Dougherty also voiced concerns for the health of police and firefighters working the parade, and for avoiding overburdening Morristown Medical Center during this period.

“I have the responsibility as mayor to do everything I can to make Morristown as safe as we can,” the mayor said.

As an Irish American, he said, it was a hard thing to cancel such a popular event. But it came down to: “Is (the parade) worth the risk? I think it’s not worth the risk.”

The mayor, council, police and firefighters held an hour-long, closed-door “emergency” session to discuss the parade prior to Tuesday’s council meeting. Dougherty said they are on board with the cancellation, as are parade organizers.

Earlier in the week, Flinn, the parade chairman, said he planned to go forward with the parade unless the governor banned large gatherings. He had expected some spectators would stay home because of health concerns.

But events have moved swiftly, with Dublin, Boston and Philadelphia cancelling their St. Patrick’s parades, and information about the virus changing almost hourly.

“We’re in unprecedented territory now,” said Flinn, who remains hopeful about a fall do-over. “We’re looking at this as a postponement, not a cancellation.”

This is the third time Morris County’s parade has been scrubbed since 1979. Snow was the culprit in 1993, and high winds were to blame in 2010. That year, Dougherty ordered the shutdown moments before the noon start. He said he wanted to avoid any last-minute calls this time.

Both of those canceled parades were rescheduled.

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and the Irish American Association of Northwest Jersey organize the annual parade as a charity fundraiser. They have estimated it draws as many as 80,000 people to cheer for 120 organizations that march down South Street.

The event traces its roots to 1780, when Gen. George Washington authorized his Irish American soldiers to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Morristown.

Historians have blamed a war bond parade for spreading a deadly influenza epidemic across Philadelphia in 1918.

That same year, St. Louis took preemptive measures credited with saving thousands of lives. A parade still is scheduled there on Saturday.

FULL STATEMENT ON PARADE CANCELLATION

MORE COVERAGE OF THE CORONAVIRUS