Fear of new virus cancels Tri-Cities Chinese New Year event

The public Chinese New Year Celebration in the Tri-Cities has been canceled over concerns about coronavirus.

The Tri-Cities Chinese American Association announced on Wednesday it would not hold its Jan. 25 celebration.

On Tuesday, the first case of coronavirus was reported in the United States in a man in Everett who had recently traveled to China.

Many of the Tri-Cities association’s members and their friends are concerned that the virus could spread and want to avoid crowds and public gatherings, the association said.

Seventeen people infected with the virus have died since it was identified in Wuhan City, China, leading to fears of a pandemic. There are more than 300 cases worldwide.

The coronavirus can lead to pneumonia, says the Centers for Disease Control.

The Washington state man, who is in his 30s, returned from a visit to Wuhan City on Jan. 15.