Mayor Daniel Rivera, with the Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee regret to announce that the Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade scheduled for this Saturday, March 14th has been cancelled. As of 4:30PM yesterday, there have been zero confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Essex County. The decision to cancel the parade is being made out of an abundance of caution in an effort to keep residents of Lawrence and the Greater Merrimack Valley safe and healthy. “The risk level for Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Lawrence and the Merrimack Valley remains low. However, as cases increase across the Commonwealth, it is important that we follow the guidance of medical professionals and the Centers for Disease Control,” said Mayor Daniel Rivera. “I want to thank the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee for working so hard on the parade, as well as our parade sponsors. Their dedication to upholding Irish-American heritage in our community is unparalleled.”

The City of Lawrence encourages all residents to follow the Centers for Disease Control preventative measures including:

• Washing your hands thoroughly and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing.
• Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.

For questions or concerns regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19), please call the Massachusetts Department of Public Health hotline at (617) 983-6800.

For more information on preventative measures, please visit the City of Lawrence Alert Center Coronavirus (COVID-19) website at https://www.cityoflawrence.com/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=Coronavirus-Update-19 .