Submitted by Lewis County Board of County Commissioners
The Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) held a joint emergency meeting with the Lewis County Board of Health on Monday to discuss the status of the Southwest Washington Fair as it relates to the increase of COVID-19 cases in the county.
With a 3-0 vote, the BOCC decided to move forward with the Southwest Washington Fair, with the following recommendations:
- Encourage mask use for all attendees.
- Move any indoor events outdoors when possible.
- Increase ventilation in any indoor facilities.
Board of Health Chair and County Commissioner Lindsey Pollock, DVM, said, “After last year’s cancellation, we are excited to have a 2021 Southwest Washington Fair. We understand that COVID-19 numbers are up in Lewis County and we want to make the fair as safe as possible. If you have any symptoms or feel you may be vulnerable, we encourage you to please stay home this year.”
Lewis County Health Officer Dr. Alan Melnick and Lewis County Deputy Health Officer Dr. Steven Krager made several recommendations. With public safety being a serious consideration during this meeting, the BOCC asked questions of these health officials, along with questions for Providence Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kevin Caserta, Salkum Fire Chief Duran McDaniel and American Medical Response (AMR) Operations Manager Tony Kuzma as they considered their decisions about the fair.
“The fair will have signage for the public at the gates explaining the increase in exposure to COVID at large gatherings, as well as the recommendations approved by the BOCC,” stated Connie Riker, Director of Parks and Recreation. She added that “the fair staff will continue to look for additional resources and will re-evaluate the situation daily to promote the safest possible event.”
