U.S. Health experts fear large crowds over the Labor Day weekend

The U.S. has reported nearly 44,500 new coronavirus cases on Saturday as Americans celebrated the Labor Day weekend.

"We don't want to see a repeat of the surges that we have seen following other holiday weekends," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said to CNN. "We don't want to see a surge under any circumstances, but particularly as we go on the other side of Labor Day and enter into the fall", he added.

Although the coronavirus hasn't stopped celebration activities over the weekend, concerns over the large gatherings that could spread the virus remained.

On Sunday, in San Francisco, California, city officials announced on social media that parking lots at Ocean Beach would be closed after over 1,000 people flocked to an event at the beach on Saturday. San Francisco Mayor London Breed called the large gathering "reckless and selfish."

Septemberfest, a Labor Day weekend celebration in Omaha, Nebraska, that normally attracts 35,000 people was canceled for the first time in its 43-year history, said event founder and chairman Terry Moore.

The Kentucky Derby, a significant annual horse racing event washeld on Saturday without fans in the stands.

In Pennsylvania, the amusement park, Kennywood expects this weekend will be a busy one for them before the summer ends. The park requires all visitors to wear masks.

In Georgia, "The Biggest Labor Day Weekend Party in the City" hosted by rapper Gucci Mane and a "Sunday Funday" rooftop party were scheduled on Sunday in Atlanta. City officials are concerned the large crowds over the weekend may trigger a new wave of COVID-19 infections.

(CGTN)