The Westminster Kennel Club’s annual dog show has been postponed due to the ongoing winter surge of COVID-19, The Associated Press reported.
“The health and safety of all participants in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show are paramount,” the club’s board of governors said in a statement. “We appreciate the community’s continued interest and support as we delay the show to a time when we can safely convene.”
The 144-year-old dog show is normally held in February, with its semifinal and final rounds taking place at Madison Square Garden.
This year’s event was moved to June and held outdoors at the Lyndhurst estate in New York with spectators barred from attending, according to the AP. Human participants had to be vaccinated against the virus or test negative to participate.
The U.S. is currently dealing with a winter spike of COVID-19 infections as the highly contagious omicron variant has taken hold across the nation.
Westminster’s postponement comes after the American Kennel Club National Championship held its annual event two weeks ago in Orlando, the AP noted.