CDC Urges Ban on Gatherings of 50 or More

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday strongly recommended no gatherings of 50 people or more in the U.S. for the next eight weeks to slow the transmission of the coronavirus. 

The guidelines would mean the cancelations of weddings, concerts, sports events, parades and conferences, according to The New York Times. 

“This recommendation is made in an attempt to reduce introduction of the virus into new communities,” the C.D.C. said, “and to slow the spread of infection in communities already affected by the virus.”

The C.D.C. noted that its recommendation would not overrule local health guidelines and did not apply to “the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses.”

“Events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygiene and social distancing,” the C.D.C. said. “When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual.”

The cancellation of smaller events comes in the wake of major organizations and businesses shutting down. Major League Baseball suspended spring training, while Disney has shut the gates to its theme park attractions and cruise lines. Broadway will be dark for at least a month and the N.C.A.A has cancelled its college basketball tournament.