The White House canceled the annual White House Easter Egg Roll “out of an abundance of caution.”
First lady Melania Trump was scheduled to host the event, a tradition dating back to 1878, on April 13 at the White House.
“The health and safety of all Americans must be the first priority, especially right now,” the first lady said in a statement Monday.
“I deeply regret this cancellation, but we need to make difficult decisions in the short-term to ensure a healthy country for the long-term. During this time, I encourage everyone to listen to state and local officials, and follow CDC guidelines in order to help protect the health and well-being of everyone,” she said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has cautioned against any gatherings of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The CDC also recommended social distancing and frequent hand washing.
As of Monday morning, there were more than 3,770 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United States and 69 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker.
