A marathon that was thanks to get put in Hong Kong in a pair of weeks has been canceled by its organizers amid fears of the coronavirus outbreak, organizers’ mentioned.

The event’s 70,000 individuals will get refunds.

This will come as Hong Kong lifted its response amount to the virus to “crisis,” and the city’s Main Govt Carrie Lam explained all substantial-scale activities, like the Spring Competition and Lantern Pageant, will be canceled.

“Community overall health is our best precedence. To aid the government’s epidemic avoidance initiatives, the organiser has decided to terminate the Normal Chartered Hong Kong Marathon initially scheduled for 8 and 9 February,” study a assertion from the Conventional Chartered Hong Kong Marathon on its web page and Facebook web page Saturday.

Lots of Facebook buyers agreed with the final decision to terminate the race.

Vivo Wong wrote: “sensible choice — I won’t be able to envision it staying an uncomplicated conclusion for the organisers. Health & basic safety is of utmost value. There will generally be subsequent calendar year.”

Quite a few runners posted on social media that they experienced been searching ahead to receiving the race’s finisher medal, which commemorates the Year of the Rat.

A person person, ImEe Adore, responded to the organization’s Facebook webpage saying: “please send us the Yr of the Rat medal and runners pack. We do not have to have the refund.”

Yet another consumer, Matthew Lee, wrote: “Yeah, can we have the medals back. We have geared up for months and at least deserve that part.”