SAVANNAH, Ga. — In just a couple of days, Savannah’s downtown area was expected to be filled with thousands of tourists for its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. However, like Boston, Chicago, New York City, and Dublin, Savannah has canceled the parade in efforts to reduce exposure of the Coronavirus.

Alderman Kurtis Purtee tells WSAV3, “We want to educate the community, get the information out there, get the information from not only CDC but the Georgia Department of Health, Chatham County Health Department; so we’re partnering up with a lot of these agencies and organizations to be able to get the proper information, get it pushed out to folks and make sure everybody has an understanding and we’re trying to be as transparent as we can with this thing.”

While the parade has been postponed it is believed that tourists will still come to the city during that time frame.

The CDC recommends that the following steps are taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
• Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
• If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.