Fans are on the fence about whether Coachella should continue despite the growing threat of the coronavirus.
Last week, petitions started to appear regarding Coachella. Some fans of the music festival have created campaigns urging organizers to ignore coronavirus concerns. Yet there are others who feel like a mass gathering of people wouldn't be the best idea amid this global crisis.
"As a highly inclusive community, we are responsible to protect each and every community member, which include the ones who are elderly, fragile, or the ones who suffers from chronic diseases, cancer, immune system diseases and other form of disabilities," the creator of a cancel Coachella petition, Stella Young, wrote. On the other hand, people that want to attend the popular festival have a combating campaign that simply reads: "If you want it canceled just sell your ticket."
The petitions for canceling Coachella are receiving a lot more support than the ones against it. Over 14,000 people have signed the petition to cancel Coachella in comparison to the nearly 2,500 people that want the show to go on.
The move to cancel Coachella follows the City of Austin's decision to cancel the South by Southwest. Also, a patient has been diagnosed with coronavirus in the town neighboring the Coachella festival site. On Sunday, the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California revealed that it is treating a patient who is "presumptive positive for coronavirus."
Rancho Mirage is just 25 minutes from Indio, California where the festival is held. Coachella is scheduled to take place from Friday, April 10 to Sunday, April 19.
