Attendance is up at this year’s Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show despite the coronavirus pandemic that’s prompted other large-scale events to be canceled, its executive director said Wednesday.

“Last Friday was the biggest opening day in our 39-year history,” said John DeSantis, executive director of the annual show.

DeSantis would not provide specific attendance figures or how they specifically compare to past years.

The event held Downtown at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center draws more than 350,000 people over the course of a week and a half, according to show organizers. It started March 6 this year and runs through Sunday.

With no cases yet confirmed in Allegheny County or Western Pennsylvania, organizers consulted with the county Health Department and decided to move forward with the show while taking extra precautions, DeSantis said.

The building was scrubbed before setup and is being kept disinfected, DeSantis said.

Tim Muldoon, the convention center’s general manager, said additional staff were brought in to keep “high-touch points” disinfected.

“We’re just trying to step up our cleaning efforts,” Muldoon said “We’re trying to do our part to make it a safe place.”

Exhibitors have also been taking extra precautions on their own, he said.

Sanitizer is available, and the Health Department, which is a longtime vendor at the show, has been on site, DeSantis said.

“Attendance is actually up. We’re pleasantly surprised,” he said.

“Right now, there have been really good crowds,” Muldoon said

Dan Gilman, chief of staff for Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, said the city does not have authority over the show. Pittsburgh canceled the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade Wednesday and has banned city-sponsored gatherings of more than 50 people.

People may be taking the chance to go out now before they can’t later, as fears of spread of the coronavirus mount, DeSantis said.

“It may be reverse cabin fever,” he said. “We’re anticipating we’ll be proceeding as normal through to the close of the show on Sunday.”

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