Comic-Con canceled over coronavirus, plans 2021 return

New Orleans Jazz Fest is latest COVID-19 economic casualty

LOS ANGELES, April 20, (AP): This year’s San Diego Comic-Con has been canceled due to coronavirus-related restrictions around large gatherings. Organizers say they are planning for the festival to return in July 2021.

The annual confab was scheduled to take place from July 23 through July 26 in and around the San Diego Convention Center. California Governor Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that he was not optimistic about a return of “mass gatherings” for things such as sports events, concerts and fairs in 2020. “Continuous monitoring of health advisories and recent statements by the Governor of California have made it clear that it would not be safe to move forward with plans for this year,” organizers said in a statement Friday.

Comic-Con attracts over 135,000 people – often elaborately costumed – to the Gaslamp District every year for the comic book convention which last year celebrated its 50th anniversary. Social distancing would be difficult to manage at the convention which is infamous for its long lines and crowded rooms. It is not uncommon for thousands of people to gather in a single room for a panel discussion, and the exhibit hall is usually jam-packed with people perusing the merchandise.

Individuals who purchased badges for 2020 will have the option of either getting a refund or transferring their badge to the 2021 convention. Those who made hotel reservations will also be refunded.

The convention center is also currently being used as a temporary homeless shelter as a measure to help curb the spread of the virus.

In March, Comic-Con organizers postponed its smaller Anaheim,

Calif-based event WonderCon which had been set to take place in midApril. A version of the event took place online instead.

But Comic-Con organizers were slow to make any official decisions regarding their largest event, which is a huge money-maker for the restaurants and hotels of San Diego, and an important promotional stop for Hollywood television and films. The event is estimated to generate over $147 million for the local economy each year.

The 2020 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival was officially canceled last Thursday, the latest economic and entertainment industry casualty in Louisiana’s fight to halt the spread of the new coronavirus.

Festival organizers had already postponed the festival, which usually spans two spring weekends, until the fall. But they announced on the festival website that they would not attempt this year to hold the event. The festival, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, draws more than 400,000 visitors to the Fair Grounds Race Course for music on multiple stages, a variety of cuisines at dozens of food booths and an arts and crafts fair.

The plan now is to hold the 2021 festival during its traditional time, the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell earlier this week urged cancellation of major city festivals. The Essence Festival, usually held in New Orleans in July, has also canceled for this year.

The announcement came as Gov John Bel Edwards announced the creation of an 18-member commission to help the state plot a course for eventually reopening businesses shuttered during the fight against the coronavirus.

The Democratic governor’s announcement came as the state’s COVID-19 death toll climbed by 53. More than 1,100 deaths have been attributed to the disease in Louisiana. But, the number of people hospitalized, and the number requiring ventilators dropped Thursday, the latest indicators of a positive trend in the state’s fight.

Edwards said Lt Gov Billy Nungesser, a Republican, will be among those serving on the Resilient Louisiana Commission. The commission will be led by state Secretary of Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson and health care consultant Terrie Sterling.

“We’re not going to get back to normal until we have a vaccine and some effective therapeutic treatments,” Edwards said at a morning, livestreamed news conference in Baton Rouge. “But, we’re not going to wait until then to start reopening the economy.”

Still, Edwards made clear that the reopening won’t be immediate. He pointed to statistics indicating stay-at-home orders and business closures have slowed the spread of COVID-19 and avoided overwhelming state hospitals. “This is not the time to let up,” he said. Rep Steve Scalise, a Republican attended the news conference and agreed with the governor. “We’re not talking about picking a choice between safety and economic recovery,” Scalise added. “You can do both and we have to do both.”