The Lawrence County Health Department said it was in consultation with Ironton Mayor Samuel Cramblit II and members of the Ironton-Lawrence Memorial Day Parade Committee in planning for this year’s scaled down parade due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The parade committee announced on Wednesday that the event would be shortened and that spectators will not be in attendance. The public is asked to watch the event on a livestream broadcast.

“We feel that they have come up with the best possible solution,” Lawrence County Health Commissioner Georgia Dillion said in a statement regarding Wednesday’s meeting with Cramblit and Lou and Brent Pyles of the parade committee. “Maintaining social distance is important in stopping the spread of the coronavirus and there just isn’t a way to keep 6’ distance between 35,000 parade attendees.”

The department said it is observing state guidelines on mass gatherings in planning for the event, which typically has 1,000 participants, in addition to the tens of thousands who watch.

“We’ve not seen high numbers in our county, but one of the concerns is that, as the state opens back up, the number of confirmed cases will go up as well, the statement read. “This is truly an unprecedented time in our history, and we appreciate everyone doing what they can to stay safe and to help ensure their families, friends and neighbors are safe, too.”

Details on the livestream and parade line up will be announced at a later date.