UPDATE: This story includes cancellations and postponements as of Wednesday, March 11. For the latest on cancellations and delays related to proactive steps taken in response to the COVID-19, visit our Coronavirus in New York page.

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Original story:

Fears about the spread of coronavirus have forced officials to cancel a number of upcoming events in the Hudson Valley, including a St. Patrick’s Parade.

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On Wednesday, City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison decided to postpone Wednesday night's State of the City address at the Changepoint Theatre. Officials believe now is not the right time to bring together such a large group of people for a public gathering, due to the coronavirus.

“We think it’s smart to use an abundance of caution in this instance,” Rolison said in a press release.

Also on Wednesday, Mid-Hudson St. Patrick’s Parade, scheduled for Sunday, March 15, in Goshen has been canceled. Parade officials blamed the "rapidly developing coronavirus (COVID-19)" for the cancelation.

The preceding mass and Grand Marshall’s breakfast is also canceled. The decision was made on direction from the Orange County Department of Health, officials say.

"We wholeheartedly thank the community for their support year after year. This parade is near and dear to so many in the community. Please stick with us as we work through this together. The health and safety of our community is our number one priority," The Mid-Hudson St. Patrick's Parade Committee wrote on Facebook. "We will be looking at something for a future date this year once the health concerns have subsided. We will keep you informed as best we can."

Officials in the City of Beacon told Hudson Valley Post Beacon’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade of Green is still on, as of now.

The 36th Annual Orange County Spring Home Show in Middletown was also canceled.

"The (Orange County Community) College, out an abundance of caution, has made this decision based on guidance provided by the Orange County Department of Health, along with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, State University of New York and others. The primary concern being the health and safety of the greater Hudson Valley community," officials wrote on the Orange County Home Show website.

As of this writing, there has been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Orange or Dutchess counties.

The Ulster County resident recently traveled internationally to France, officials say. He drove himself to the hospital after experiencing coronavirus symptoms where test samples were taken and he was immediately placed into quarantine, officials say.

Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan identified the man as a middle-aged man from the town of Rochester. The man lives on his own and it doesn't appear he made any contact with any local schools or young people, according to Ryan.

On Monday, Dutchess County Executive Executive Marc Molinaro announced officials believe the man had contact with Dutchess County residents. Those residents are being monitored.

On Tuesday, Mount Saint Mary College ordered all students and staff to stay away from the campus until at least the end of the month due to the coronavirus. 

Four schools in area also recently sent students or staff members home due to the coronavirus. There are currently over 100 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Lower Hudson Valley, most from Westchester County.

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