The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put forward new guidelines Sunday recommending that all gatherings and events of 50 people and more be postponed until May to try to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus.
As of Sunday evening, the US had confirmed more than 3,660 COVID-19 cases, including at least 68 deaths.
The CDC announced the new guidelines in a statement.
"Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities," the CDC said.
According to the CDC, examples of large events and mass gatherings "include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies." It continued: "These events can be planned not only by organizations and communities but also by individuals."
The CDC recommended that organizers of these types of events consisting of 50 or more people cancel or postpone for the next eight weeks.
"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 CDC said. "When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual.
"This recommendation does not apply to the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses. This recommendation is made in an attempt to reduce the introduction of the virus into new communities and to slow the spread of infection in communities already affected by the virus. This recommendation is not intended to supersede the advice of local public health officials."
Some states have already closed schools, and many are calling for bars and restaurants to close.
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