In a sign that the impact of the coronavirus will be far deeper than originally anticipated, the city of Munich has cancelled Oktoberfest. The potential for a new outbreak of COVID-19 was deemed too likely to allow the traditional Bavarian celebratin of beer and bratwurst to go forward. It’s an event of huge symbolic value to the city and produces more than €1bn in revenues as six million revelers converge for endless days and nights of indulging. “We have decided the risk is simply too great,” said the state premier Markus Soeder. “It hurts, it’s really a huge shame.” ExpoReal, Munich’s international real estate exhibition, always follows on the heels of Oktoberfest.
