HOLYOKE – Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse gathered with St. Patrick’s Parade President Marc Joyce and other city officials on March 10 to announce the cancellation of the parade and Road Race.

Morse said the cancellation was a “difficult decision” that was made “in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus.”

The decision, according to Morse, was made the morning of March 10 during a meeting of the Mayor’s Emergency Management Advisory Council which is made up of the police chief, fire chief, members of the board of health and other public safety and health officials from the city.

Joyce was also in attendance at the meeting, Morse said, which allowed him to hear “firsthand concerns of our emergency management team” directly.

Morse said while the risk for contracting the virus in Massachusetts “remains low,” the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and officials from local public health offices are advising implementing “control measures that will lower or/or delay” the spread of coronavirus. Such measures include “hand sanitary education efforts, social distancing, work from home policies and the postponing of large gatherings.”

He said lowering or delaying the spread of the virus was a “critical tool” for both local, state and federal officials. Morse added that he shared concerns with emergency responders that personal protective equipment needed for first responders for treating people were in limited supply.

With more than “as many as 400,000 people from all over the world” expected to travel to Holyoke for the parade and race, Morse said “it would be irresponsible” for the city “to carry on with the events as scheduled.”

He added “even the slightest spread of coronavirus” caused by the weekend's events “could have devastating effects on long term public safety and our community, as well as the Holyoke Police Department and Fire Department.”

Joyce said “to the best of my knowledge” the parade had never been cancelled before. He appeared emotional while he said the parade and race were “not events you can just pick up and move.” Joyce added they felt they could continue some of their smaller events such as the Bishops Mass on March 21 and the Ambassador’s Breakfast.