The World Figure Skating Championships scheduled to take place in Montreal next week have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, a Quebec provincial official announced Wednesday. Health Minister Danielle McCann told a news conference the March 16-22 championships had been called off due to "the risk of transmission of the virus." Some 200 skaters from 50 countries were expected to take part in the competition. Canada has confirmed nearly 100 cases of the novel coronavirus, including eight in Quebec province and one death in British Columbia. McCann said some attendees would have come from countries experiencing local transmission, with little access to laboratory testing and treatment. As such, the event "might have contributed to the geographic spread of the virus," she said. jl/et/amc/ft