Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota banned large-scale high school graduation ceremonies on Friday to limit the spread of the coronavirus, and encouraged schools to hold online ceremonies instead.

The Minnesota Department of Education issued guidance saying indoor graduations and ceremonies held outside in stadiums and on football fields are not permitted. Such gathering are not considered safe at any size, it said.

“We know how much students in the class of 2020 have sacrificed this year, and how disappointing it is not to participate in the milestones or traditions they had imagined,” the notice said. “These guidelines were made with public health protection in mind, and adhering to them is how we will both celebrate our students and move safely through this challenge together.”

While some schools have discussed delaying graduation ceremonies until later to allow for more traditional events, the department said it can’t offer a timeline for when public health guidance will be changed to allow large gatherings.

The guidance also lists steps for schools to take if they decide to host celebrations such as car parades or parking lot ceremonies. It said each household should be in a separate car, attendees should stay in their cars and events should be brief.