The Fannin Co. Special Olympics event schedule for April 3 has been cancelled in response to the spread of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, according to statements from Gini Bell, head of the county organization, and Georgia Milton-Sheats, Special Olympics Georgia CEO.

A letter sent from Milton-Sheats on Tuesday, March 10, states, “Special Olympics Georgia is taking steps to limit the spread of COVID-19. We are are requesting the suspension of all local and area competitions and practices through March 31, 2020.”

The letter goes on to say the organization plans to reevaluate the situation March 31.

In response to the letter, Bell and the Fannin Co. Special Olympics leadership committee have decided to cancel the April 3 track-and-field event.

“Our planned track and field event was schedule for April 3, 2020 only a few days after this time period and reevaluation. Thus, the Fannin County Special Olympics leadership committee has decided to cancel our local area games (track and field),” Bell stated.

She went on to say, “This decision was not made lightly and the health and safety of our athletes and volunteers is of utmost importance. We serve many athletes that are elderly and/or immunocompromised and we want to ensure the safety of each one.”

There are currently multiple confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in the state of Georgia, along with at least 36 other states, and more than 120,000 confirmed cases worldwide.

See the statements from Bell and Milton-Sheats below.