The Boston marathon has been postponed by “several months” due to growing concerns of the spreading coronavirus causing COVID-19, according to several local media outlets.
The annual marathon, which brings thousands of visitors and participants to the city, was originally scheduled for April 20. This is the first time in 124 years the marathon has been postponed.
According to The Boston Globe, city officials are considering moving the marathon to a three-day weekend in late summer or early fall, such as Labor Day weekend.
As of Thursday, there are nearly 100 cases of the virus in Massachusetts, according to the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE).
The marathon is one of many major conferences and events that have been canceled or postponed due to fears of the coronavirus. Yesterday, Boston joined several other major U.S. cities in canceling its St. Patrick’s Day festivities.