Taiwanese authorities have cancelled the 2021 Taiwan Lantern Festival due to fears that the event might spread COVID-19. This is the first time the government has cancelled the event in its 32-year history. The decision came after Taiwan reported four new domestic cases of the virus on Tuesday.
The festival was due to take place in late February.
Hsinchu Mayor Lin Chih-chien says that it would be difficult to implement effective pandemic prevention measures given the large crowds. He also says that he made the difficult decision after several high-tech manufacturers in Hsinchu urged him to consider cancelling the event.
Transport Minister Lin Chia-lung says he supports the decision. The transport ministry has already invested NTD$200 million (US$7 million) in the event. Lin says the effect on tourism would be difficult to estimate, but public safety has to come first.
The lantern festival in nearby New Taipei City is also in doubt. Authorities say that cancellation is ‘one of several options’.