Comic festival cancelled for first time in 50 years

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Comic-Con to close for first time since 70s. Photo: via Bernama

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LOS ANGELES: San Diego Comic-Con, one of the largest annual comic and pop culture festivals in the world, has been cancelled for the first time in its 50-year history due to the Covid-19 pandemic, its organisers announced on Friday.

The four-day event, attended by more than 135,000 people last year, was scheduled to take place in San Diego in the US state of California on July 23-26, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.

“The last few weeks have been an unprecedented time. Since it is becoming apparent that Covid-19 restrictions will not be a short-term matter, we have made the sad decision to cancel Comic-Con for the first time in its 50-year history,” tweeted organisers of the festival.

“While we are saddened to take this action, we know it is the right decision,” said David Glanzer, spokesperson for Comic-Con in a statement.

California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a stay-at-home order on March 19 to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the state with a population of some 40 million. The order limits non-essential gatherings to no more than 250 people.

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As of Friday, San Diego county reported 2,158 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 70 deaths. – Bernama

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