The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that event organizers cancel or postpone in-person events of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks.
In a message on the CDC's website, health officials said large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend and introduce the virus to different communities.
Examples of large gatherings included conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings and other types of assemblies.
According to the CDC, this measure does not apply to:
- schools
- institutes of higher learning
- businesses
The CDC said events of any size should only be continued if they follow the guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygieneand social distancing.
Federal health officials are encouraging organizers, whether organizational or individual, to switch to virtual events if possible.
The recommendation is in place to reduce the introduction and spread of COVID-19 into new communities and is "not intended to supersede the advice of local public health officials".
Read the latest recommendation here.
