This article discusses how, despite the blow to Europe’s largest economy, the contagion risks associated with having 6 million attendees (2 million from outside Germany) in the city for the two-week fall festival were too great.

While Germany’s extensive testing of the public has allowed them to begin to loosen stay at home measures in parts of the country, the country has a prohibition on larger events that will run until August 31.

According to the article, Oktoberfest was last canceled during World War II, and before that was canceled twice in the 19th century due to cholera outbreaks.