Japan said on Monday (Feb. 17) it has cancelled a public gathering to celebrate the birthday of Emperor Naruhito, as fears grow over the spread of Covid-19 in the country.

Wanted public to avoid crowds & "non-essential gatherings".

The emperor, who ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne in May 2019, will be turning 60 this weekend on Feb. 23, 2020.

"In light of various situations, we have decided to cancel the visit by the general public to the palace for His Majesty's birthday," the imperial household agency said in a statement after the government warned people to avoid crowds and "non-essential gatherings".

According to Kyodo News, the emperor and Empress Masako were originally scheduled to greet the public three times on Sunday morning from a balcony in the palace's Chowa-Den wing.

They were to be accompanied by Crown Prince Fumihito, his wife Crown Princess Kiko, and their daughters Princess Mako and Princess Kako.

"We made the decision to cancel the public event at the palace, which is attended every year by many people in close proximity, after considering the risk of the virus spreading," Kenji Ikeda, vice grand steward of the agency, said in a press conference Monday.

The last time the event was cancelled was in 1996, according to the wishes of the former Emperor Akihito, due to the hostage crisis at the Japanese Embassy in Peru.

Around 82,000 well-wishers visited the palace for the former emperor's final birthday address from the throne in Dec. 2018.

Japan confirmed its first death caused by the Covid-19 outbreak on Feb. 13, with at least 61 confirmed cases of infection as of Feb. 17, 2020.

Top image via Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images