White House cancels Easter Egg Roll

by Judy Kurtz - 03/16/20 10:17 AM ET

The annual White House Easter Egg Roll — a tradition dating back more than 140 years — won’t be held next month due to concerns about the coronavirus.

“The health and safety of all Americans must be the first priority, especially right now,” first lady Melania Trump said in a statement Monday announcing the cancellation of the April 13 event.

“I deeply regret this cancellation, but we need to make difficult decisions in the short-term to ensure a healthy country for the long-term,” Trump said.

“During this time, I encourage everyone to listen to state and local officials, and follow CDC guidelines in order to help protect the health and well-being of everyone.”

The springtime tradition, which dates back to President Rutherford B. Hayes’s administration, typically brings thousands of families to the South Lawn of the White House.

The coronavirus has led to countless major event closures and postponements across the country in an attempt to stop the spread of the pandemic. In recent weeks, music festivals including Coachella and South by Southwest were delayed and nixed. The annual Gridiron Club dinner in Washington was also called off last week.

In the United States, more than 3,700 people are confirmed to have the coronavirus and roughly 70 people have died from the disease as of Monday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Tags Coronavirus Melania Trump