After being amongst the first major events to postpone festival dates in the wake of COVID-19, both Coachella and Stagecoach have been forced to cancel their re-scheduled dates by city health officials.
Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser signed an order Wednesday canceling both music festivals, citing concerns over a possible surge of coronavirus cases in the fall.
“I am concerned as indications grow that COVID-19 could worsen in the fall,” Kaiser said. “In addition, events like Coachella and Stagecoach would fall under Governor Newsom’s Stage 4, which he has previously stated would require treatments or a vaccine to enter. Given the projected circumstances and potential, I would not be comfortable moving forward.”
Goldenvoice, the Los Angeles-based company that produces the music festivals, has yet to release an official statement, although county health officials revealed they’d spoken with them.
“After consulting with our public health officer and local leaders from the City of Indio and Goldenvoice, and with continued importance on public health, it was decided that postponing the concert series was appropriate and necessary,” said V. Manuel Perez, Fourth District supervisor, in a statement.
It is anticipated that Goldenvoice will be announcing plans for a series of virtual events that will be hosted in place of the annual festivals, while working towards potentially scaled-back festivals next year.
UPDATE: June 10, 2020, 3:30 PM PST
