New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the largest such celebration in the world, was postponed late Wednesday over concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, the first time in more than 250 years that the event will not go on as planned.

The announcement, made in a statement by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and parade organizers, followed the cancellation of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Chicago and Boston. Ireland on Monday canceled all parades nationwide.