The Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals have been cancelled this year.
Both festivals had already been postponed from April to October. Coachella, one of the world’s biggest music festivals, was due to be headlined by Rage Against the Machine, Frank Ocean and Travis Scott.
Recent headlining acts have included Beyonce, The Weeknd, Eminem, Childish Gambino and Ariana Grande.
Hundreds of thousands of people typically attend the festival.
Stagecoach is a country music festival that takes place annually at Indio’s Empire Polo Club. Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood and Eric Church had been set to headline this year.
Cameron Kaiser, a public health official in Riverside County where the events would have taken place, said he would not feel “comfortable” with them going ahead as there are fears the pandemic could worsen later in the year.
The USA has now recorded more than 2 million positive tests for Covid-19.
Kaiser said: "I am concerned as indications grow that Covid-19 could worsen in the fall.
"Given the projected circumstances and potential, I would not be comfortable moving forward.
"These decisions are not taken lightly with the knowledge that many people will be impacted. My first priority is the health of the community."
Festivals area allowed under stage 4 of California Governor Gavin Newsom's reopening plan. They would require treatments or vaccines to permit entry, Kaiser said.
