The New York State Fair cannot go forward this year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday.

The fair is a summer staple for upstate New York and Syracuse. The fairgrounds itself has received an influx of cash from the state to upgrade facilities. 

But the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic has put safety of fairgoers in jeopardy.

"This is really a tough one," Cuomo said at a news conference in New York City. "This year we're going to have to cancel it. That personally makes me very unhappy, but that's where we are."

Cuomo for weeks had doubted whether the fair could move forward safely due to the pandemic. Other summertime staples in upstate New York, like the Boilermaker in Utica, have also been canceled. 

Sports are moving forward, but without fans in the stands at Belmont, Saratoga and Watkins Glen. 

New York has been battered by the pandemic, but has seen its cases largely subside in recent weeks as businesses and offices begin to gradually reopen around the state. Coronavirus cases in the south and west, however, have spiked across the country. 

Nine people have died in the last 24 hours from COVID-19. More than 54,000 tests found a positive rate of 0.95 percent, Cuomo said. 

Cuomo urged local officials to enforce social distancing and mask wearing as more people leave their homes to enjoy the warm weather. 

"We're not the United States of denial," Cuomo said. "If we do not as a nation acknowledge the COVID viral increase, it is going to continue."