Coachella and Stagecoach: County health officer orders festival cancellations for 2020 amid coronavirus pandemic

Riverside County has ordered the cancellation of the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals out of concerns about a second wave of coronavirus in the fall.
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
INDIO, Calif. -- The Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals, which had already been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, have both now been ordered to cancel entirely for 2020.

RELATED: Cancellations, closures related to COVID-19 in San Francisco Bay Area

The cancellations were ordered by Riverside County's public health officer.
[Ads /]
Dr. Cameron Kaiser said he signed the order out of concerns about a second wave of coronavirus in the fall.

"I am concerned as indications grow that COVID-19 could worsen in the fall," said Kaiser. "In addition, events like Coachella and Stagecoach would fall under Governor Newsom's Stage 4, which he has previously stated would require treatments or a vaccine to enter. Given the projected circumstances and potential, I would not be comfortable moving forward.

RELATED: Here's everything allowed to open in CA (and what we're still waiting on)

"These decisions are not taken lightly with the knowledge that many people will be impacted. My first priority is the health of the community."



Earlier this year as the coronavirus pandemic was growing, organizers of both events announced they had been rescheduled for October.
[Ads /]
Then last week, Coachella organizers starting reaching out to performers asking them to play in 2021 instead of October, according to Bloomberg News.

Some 250,000 people attend the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival's two weekends in Indio every year in April.

COVID impact: One of America's first 'socially distant' concert gives glimpse into future of live events
One of America's first 'socially-distant' concert gives glimpse at what live events could look like


If you have a question or comment about the coronavirus pandemic, submit yours via the form below or here.
Get the latest news, information and videos about the novel coronavirus pandemic hereRELATED STORIES & VIDEOS:
Copyright © 2024 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.