Health & Fitness
4th Chicago Conference Canceled Over Coronavirus
The World Congress of Cardiology, set to be held at McCormick Place, was cancelled.
CHICAGO, IL — As the first Illinois case of coronavirus outside of Cook County was confirmed Tuesday, another conference set to be held at McCormick Place has been canceled. The American College of Cardiology has canceled its annual World Congress of Cardiology, which had been scheduled for March 28 to 30.
Last week, the International Housewares Association also canceled an event scheduled to take place at McCormick Place. That event was expected to draw more than 60,000 guests.
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The College of Cardiology said the decision to cancel the meeting came after recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and prevention and the World Health Organization, according to NBC Chicago, which reported the event was the fourth Chicago conference to be cancelled.
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Meanwhile, at least four Chicago-area schools have closed after a student, teacher or community member came into contact with a patient who was diagnosed with COVID-19. The CEO of Chicago Public Schools said Tuesday there are no plans to cancel classes districtwide.
The Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade and dyeing the Chicago River green, as well as the South Side Irish Parade, are also set to happen as scheduled.
On Tuesday, officials in Kane County said Illinois' 12th confirmed case of coronavirus was diagnosed in a patient there. It is the first case outside of Chicago or suburban Cook County.
Nationwide, there have been 804 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 28 deaths — 23 in Washington state, two in Florida, two in California and one in New Jersey.
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