Triangle Chinese New Year celebrations canceled over coronavirus concerns
Two Triangle Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations have been canceled or postponed because of concerns about the coronavirus.
The Chinese New Year Festival scheduled Saturday at Dorton Arena in Raleigh has been canceled “in the spirit of caution,” the Triangle Area Chinese American Society said on its website.
Lightup 2020, scheduled Sunday in Chapel Hill, has been postponed, organizers said on their website.
While there are no cases of the coronavirus in North Carolina, travel to and from China has increased with the arrival of the Lunar New Year and because of people evacuating the country. In China, the end of the new year holiday was extended from Thursday to Sunday, The Associated Press reported, in an effort to stall the epidemic.
The new virus, first identified last month, has killed 132 people and infected more than 6,000 people in China and around the world, according to The Associated Press on Tuesday.
In the United States, there have been five confirmed cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, none of them on the East Coast.
Over the weekend, the CDC ruled out a possible case in North Carolina after a traveler who had been in Wuhan, China — where the outbreak originated — returned home through Raleigh-Durham International Airport with similar symptoms.
“We are respectful of potential health concerns expressed by performers, vendors and members of the general public, and look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2021 when we celebrate the Year of the Ox on January 30, 2021,” said the Triangle Area Chinese American Society about the annual event.
Organizers of the Chapel Hill Lightup, an event with lantern making, drumming and a dragon dance in downtown, had a similar message. The event is organized by the Chinese School of Chapel Hill and Chinese American Friendship Association of North Carolina with assistance from the Town of Chapel Hill.
“For the people of our community whose families and friends are directly impacted by the outbreak, our thoughts and prayers are with you,” according to the Lightup website “We hope for their fast recovery and improvement of situations on the ground.”
A new date will be announced.
Travel restrictions
Triangle universities with students and faculty in China have been monitoring the virus, The News & Observer reported. Duke said Saturday that Duke Kunshan University in China postponed classes until Feb. 17 and would restrict access to the campus.
Monday, the university announced additional rules with the school “restricting all university-funded travel to China.” The restriction includes official travel for students and faculty connected with the university and Duke Health.
That coincides with the the CDC’s new advisory that advises travelers to “avoid non-essential travel to any part of China,” The Associated Press reports.
Dr. Zack Moore, North Carolina state epidemiologist, said Friday the risk of someone locally being infected is low.
“Broadly speaking, the major risks with this particular virus are for people who have traveled to Wuhan, China in the past 14 days,” Moore said at the news conference. “Although it is a major concern, and something we take very seriously, the risk to the general public in North Carolina is extremely low at this point.”
Health officials say those who have traveled to Wuhan and have developed a fever or have difficulty breathing within two weeks should contact their doctor immediately. They should call ahead before visiting a doctor’s office or hospital.